Fleurpepper
Totally agree. In supermarkets I have often asked to speak to the manager in charge of fruit and veg, and asked why there were no British apples on sale, in season. British apples are fabulous and very varied- but orchards are going to pot, not maintained or pruned, and fruit left to rot. Massively wrong.
And yes, we should eat in season and local whenever possible.
But this is not what we are talking about. We are talking about the stuff we do not, or cannot, produce ourselves, which are so much more important than tomatoes and cucumbers.
2004:
"The English apple is very much part of England and being English," said James Gray, a Tory agriculture spokesman. "I happen to like the taste of English apples more than the taste of French ones."
Mr Gray warned that the pressure on fruit growers would increase in the coming year with the implementation of the new Brussels subsidy scheme. While strawberry and vegetable growers will qualify for EU cash, orchard owners will not, unless they allow animals to graze around the trees. He said many farmers would decide to "tear down their orchards" to claim subsidies as arable farmers.
While smaller orchards will qualify for British cash under the countryside stewardship scheme, the Government confirmed that they would not get EU subsidies.
There are small signs of encouragement with schemes for community orchards, farmers being encouraged to replant more fruit and nut trees.
There's a long way to go and more government help is needed.
