Do we still grow British apples.

Pedwards

Well let’s face! She’s mad! We should be producing and consuming more of our own produce. I have said so for years long before Brexit or Covid, we should be more self reliant.

I agree. I can’t imagine why should we need to import so much salad stuff from the Netherlands - a small country with virtually the same climate. It’s not the same as ditto from rather warmer Spain.
I do wonder whether potential NIMBY objections to miles of polytunnels are one reason. Even parts of southern Spain have huge swathes of these.

There are miles of polytunnels in Herefordshire Witzend!

Oh yes and can’t wait for my visit to East Sussex to buy them fresh.

Have you visited East Sussex or parts of Kent, Thanet in particular, you will see miles of polytunnels.

If the Netherlands can produce salad products cheaper than us why not buy them? We have products they need that we can grow better than they can, Field crops like wheat and barley.

We were exporting grain to Europe in the Roman period (and hunting dogs and cloaks). Although I think the last two do not feature very highly in international trade these days.

Yes we still grow British apples.

If you're ever in Kent have a visit here:
www.nationalfruitcollection.org.uk/