A report highlights that four in ten British berry growers might go out of business by 2026 due to rising costs and squeezed supermarket prices.
British Berry Growers (BBG), representing over 95% of UK-grown berries, found that nearly half (47%) of growers are not making a profit, suggesting that 40% could close by 2026. Additionally, 37% of growers are considering reducing production or exiting berry farming entirely.
Concerns arise as consumers spent a record £847.5 million (€986 million) on strawberries over the past year. However, 89% of growers who are no longer profitable reported they stopped making a profit after 2020 due to increased production costs.
Labour, fertilizers, packaging, and transport costs have surged significantly for British strawberries and other berries. More than half of the investment in producing a punnet of strawberries is hourly-paid labour, which has increased substantially in the last four years. Growers also report a lack of support from supermarkets.
BBG chairman Nick Marston emphasized the need for fair returns to cover rising production costs and highlighted strained relationships with retailers. BBG calls for urgent action from both retailers and the government.
They suggest extending seasonal worker visas from six to nine months and implementing a more agile approval process for berry exports to take advantage of market opportunities in the EU and beyond.
Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd advocates for supporting local growers, stressing the importance of securing a sustainable future for British berries, which he considers some of the best in the world.
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