The NFU Horticulture and Potatoes sector fringe, hosted by board chair Martin Emmett, focused on the critical areas that would help British growers prepare for the future.
And with the NFU Horticulture Growth Strategy relaunched in the same week, the fringe was the ideal opportunity to quiz guest speaker Daniel Zeichner, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, on how the government and industry can work together to secure growth for the sector.
Despite repeating the government’s recognition that food security is national security, the Farming Minister wasn’t able to make any announcements on when future funding might be made known and what form it could take, leaving growers worried about the future beyond 2025, when the current Fruit & Vegetable aid scheme is due to end.
And although there was no mention of likely SWS visa numbers, the Minister, who joined the fringe virtually, said he is working with the Home Office to ensure growers are notified of seasonal worker numbers in time for them to be able to plan ahead.
Pressing the Minister on the NFU's ask of an expanded Fruit and Vegetable aid scheme, Martin voiced his concerns around funding and continuity for producer organisations.
"The NFU's ask is for an expanded scheme that all our members could be eligible for, whether they be in a producer organisation or not," he said. "Business models have been based around a certain amount of funding which we now hear will stop in December this year. Can you guarantee some continuity?"
Watch again – NFU25: Horticulture and potatoes fringe session
Mr Zeichner said: “I'll just start by addressing the future of the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme. There is a desire for certainty on that scheme, but I can tell you, the scheme is finishing because it is a legacy EU scheme.
“We are looking across our range of support programmes to see where horticulture will fit within that. I can't give you a precise answer today, but we're looking very closely to see how we can boost food security across all sectors.”
“Our revised strategy sets out the key government and supply chain policies needed to unlock the sector’s potential and drive the growth the government aims to achieve.”
Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett
Long-term assurance for seasonal workers
Moving onto the seasonal worker scheme, Martin asked the Minister for clarity on timescales to minimise reduction in production.
Mr Zeichner relayed that he is aware of how important the seasonal worker visa scheme is for the horticulture sector.
“We've already ensured that growers have adequate seasonal labour in 2025,” he said, “which is vital in helping to manage seasonal peaks and bringing the range of top-quality fresh produce to market that we crucially rely on.
“But I recognise that farmers need long-term assurance and so we're currently working closely with the Home Office and again, we'll be making announcements over the coming months.”
Mr Zeichner stressed he was keen to see investment in the sector and touched on the 25 Year Farming Road Map announced recently by the Secretary of State.
“We want to have a discussion about how we'll make farming more profitable and more sustainable, both financially and environmentally.”
He said that this would involve an ambitious food strategy that would set out and deliver long term outcomes to create a healthier, fairer, more resilient food system.
Common ground
The minister also pointed out that having reviewed the NFU Horticulture Strategy for Growth, which was relaunched at this year’s event, there was a lot of common ground.
Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett said of the relaunch: “Our revised strategy sets out the key government and supply chain policies needed to unlock the sector’s potential and drive the growth the government aims to achieve.
“Horticulture is a sector where industry, the supply chain, and government all agree there is significant potential for growth in the UK.”
Mr Zeichner added: “We want to work with you in the sector to provide a clear vision for the future.
“It will involve meaningful change, so the government’s strategy will be underpinned by some critical themes, including fairness through the supply chain, which obviously has been a subject of much discussion over a number of years, alongside accessibility to healthy affordable food.
“That's not a job for government alone. There are a number of actors in this space, but we have a key role and what we will do is work side by side with this sector to deliver what we think can be lasting change.”
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board vice chair Stephen Shields asked how the Minister how the government will address some of the worst behaviours in the supply chain. Mr Zeichner explained the government's plans to tackle the issues sector by sector, but said the fresh produce sector was a complex area.
NFU Potato Policy Group chair Tim Rooke pressed the Minister on plant protection, emphasising the impact the lack of alternative products have on yields and expressed how growers could are questioning mitigate the risk against return.
Mr Zeichner was sympathetic to the case but said it was key that a balance was struck between addressing consumer concern over pesticide use and providing plentiful crops.
Meet the speakers from this session
Martin Emmett
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair
He is a director of Tristram Plants, part of the Farplants co-operative which grows and markets over 2000 plant varieties and generates more than £50 million annual sales through retail.
Tim Rooke
NFU Potato Policy Group chair | NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board vice chair
He farms in partnership with his brother and has a mixture of tenanted and owned farms. He also grows wheat, oats, and oilseed rape.
Previously, he has been a member of United Potato Farmers Limited, a director of Alpha Group, and member of the AHDB potatoes marketing group.
Christine McDowell
NFU horticulture and potatoes senior policy specialist
Prior to joining the NFU in 2015, Christine worked across the commercial and supply chain roles within one of the UK largest fresh produce manufactures and is an MDS alumni graduate.
Stephen Shields
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board vice chair
A fourth generation family-owned business based in Southport, Huntapac supplies the major retailers with root vegetables, salads and brassicas. He has been with the business since 2012, but his career in fresh produce spans over 16 years and a total 32 years in the food industry.
Stephen has also played a key role across a number of customer facing working groups such as Waitrose Agronomy Group, Tesco R&D Committee and chairing the Co-op’s Crop Production Group.
He is also a Red Tractor Fresh Produce Board member.
Daniel Zeichner MP
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs
Daniel was previously Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2020 to 2024. Prior to this, he was Shadow Minister for Transport.
Daniel founded and chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Data Analytics, is chair of the All Party Parliamentary University Group and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Life Sciences, and is Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the East of England among others.
Daniel has a History degree from the University of Cambridge, and on leaving university ran a small nursery with his partner in rural Norfolk before embarking on a career in computer programming.
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