British Summer Fruits, the industry body representing 95% of all commercial berry growers in the UK, is relaunching itself and rebranding itself as British Berry Growers.
Since 1992, the UK trade association for the soft fruit industry has supported British growers in creating a £1 billion-plus supply chain, the largest in British horticulture.
TARGET: 100% OF THE UK MARKET
British Berry Growers' ambition is that British seasonal berries will continue to supply 100 per cent of the UK's needs and that, by 2035, exports from the sector will be 50 per cent higher than UK sales volumes.
The organisation will have four priorities for engagement. The first is to ensure understanding of the positive contribution of the British berry industry to asustainable rural economy and the health of the country, and to establish government policy that supports the mission of British Berry Growers.
The second priority is to target world-leading berry research and development to support pest and disease treatment, crop utilisation and future efficiency, including reducing the carbon, waste and water footprint of the UK berry industry.
Thirdly, the industry body will seek to increase berry sales through awareness and support of British consumers, focusing primarily on British berries and stimulating overall consumer demand through coverage of 52 weeks per year.
Finally, British Berry Growers aims to identify and address the main risks in the sector to ensure its long-term viability and provide support to UK berry growers.
THE LAUNCH OF BRITISH BERRY GROWERS MARKS AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR THE BRITISH BERRY INDUSTRY.
Nick Marston, President of British Berry Growers.
"The British soft fruit industry is a real success story for British businesses," said Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers. "Now worth over £1.6 billion a year, the value of the category has doubled in just a decade. Our growers are at the heart of the rural economy and our sector is recognised as a key contributor to the UK's food self-sufficiency."
"British Berry Growers will support the tireless work of our berry growers, both large and small, and support them as they adapt to the future challenges of seasonal berry production," Marston added. "We are here to ensure the long-term success of the British berry supply chain."
The creation of British Berry Growers involves the launch of a new advisory board dedicated to research and development. Its purpose will be to enable British Berry Growers to be recognised as one of the best crop associations in the world from a technical and environmental point of view.
Two new non-executive directors were also appointed within the British Berry Growers organisation.
Former MEP Anthea McIntyre CBE joins the organisation to advise and support it in policy matters, while Dr Louise Sutherland brings her years of experience in the agri-tech sector to manage and set up the newly established R&D advisory board.
British Berry Growers will continue to fund Love Fresh Berries, the organization's year-round PR and social media campaign to promote strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries and all industry activities.
British Berry Growers currently has 9 members and 8 associate members in England and Scotland, which together account for 95% of the British berries purchased in major UK supermarkets and a significant share of the imported product.
Source:Fruitnet
Fruitnet is part of the NCX Media network.
