A UK salad producer is calling for government support to ensure the country can grow more of its own food. The Green House Growers says recent shortages of salad crops, caused by unseasonably cold winters in Morocco and Spain, could have been avoided if they were grown in the UK.
The business, which has sites in Ely and Norwich, said there was scope for more local production. It wants help to become more sustainable and with energy costs.
The government said it was providing financial incentives for all farmers. This winter, high energy prices led some greenhouse farmers in the UK and the Netherlands to cut production.
The Lea Valley Growers Association - which produces about three-quarters of the UK's cucumber and pepper crops - delayed planting due to high energy costs. During the winter, the UK imports about 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuces.
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