A HEREFORDSHIRE soft fruit grower has been speaking in the European Parliament about the future of horticulture.
Anthony Snell, NFU horticulture and potatoes board vice-chairman, told MEPs that he was 'extremely upbeat' about its future of but said the EU had an important role to play to unlock the sectors’ potential.
“Take producer organisations (POs),” said Mr Snell, of A J and C I Snell in Harewood End. “Today the UK is one of only two EU member states that have a negative trend in the number of POs in existence.
"The UK has lost a significant number of POs in the last five years, and last year almost half of all POs were suspended.
"If the European Commission is serious about wanting to encourage more growers to join POs then it is crucially important that the scheme adapts to fit the market structures that exist in a member state – this will be vital for ensuring an efficient and competitive EU horticulture industry that is able to compete in a global marketplace.”
Mr Snell was invited to speak in the parliament by Anthea McIntyre MEP who is drafting a report on horticultural policy in the EU.