Decline of Small-to-Medium Growers Amid Labor Shortages and Extreme Weather
The UK’s new potato growers face mounting challenges due to post-Brexit labor laws and adverse weather conditions attributed to climate change. These factors have led to a significant decline in small-to-medium potato farms, particularly impacting the ability to source British early potatoes.
Guy Singh-Watson, the founder of Riverford, a leading vegetable box scheme, emphasized the severe impact on British early potato sourcing for customer distribution. This difficulty is symptomatic of a broader issue where smaller fruit and vegetable growers are exiting the industry. Key factors driving this trend include low returns, labor shortages resulting from Brexit, and increasingly extreme weather conditions.
A recent survey by Riverford revealed that 49% of horticulture companies are on the brink of closure. Singh-Watson remarked on the alarming disappearance of family farms in the south and southwest regions, traditionally cultivating 10 to 100 acres of potatoes. The loss of these farms signals a broader crisis within the sector.
Gerard Croft from the British Potato Trade Association noted that the challenges are not limited to small-to-medium farmers. Larger producers also struggled this year due to waterlogged fields caused by prolonged rainfall. April 2024 was recorded as the UK’s sixth-wettest April, exacerbating the situation. Mark Taylor of GB Potatoes highlighted the particularly severe impact on the southwest, where delayed planting has resulted in tight supplies.
The industry is under increasing pressure from more frequent extreme weather events. These conditions have led to delayed plantings and compromised crop yields, further straining the supply chain. With labor shortages adding to the woes, the future sustainability of new potato farming in the UK is at risk.
