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He is expected to say: “As British farmers and food producers you know that we grow some of the best food in the world here – so why is 24 per cent of the food eaten in the UK imported when it could be produced here?

“We have a top-class fruit and veg sector which produces everything from green beans to strawberries, yet we imported £8 billion of fruit and veg in 2012. We can’t grow mangoes or pineapples, but we can encourage UK consumers and food businesses to buy Scottish raspberries or Kent apples.

“This is a huge opportunity, and it’s up to all of us – farmers, food manufacturers and the government – to take action. By buying seasonal fruit and veg we can improve the nation’s health, help the environment and boost the economy.”

Area under fruit and veg has fallen

Defra statisitics show that the total area of horticultural crops decreased by 4.9% between 2012 and 2013, the land area now stands at 163 thousand hectares. The area of salad and vegetables for human consumption accounts for 71% of horticultural area and has driven the decrease, falling by 6.0% to 116 thousand hectares in
2013 (see figure 8). The areas of orchards, hardy nursery stock and glasshouse also saw decreases in 2013. However, the area of small fruit increased by 2.7% to 9.6 thousand hectares.