The wholesale market for salad crops was flooded with imported produce at rock bottom prices, collapsing the markets and forcing growers to cut their prices, costing the British horticultural industry millions of pounds.

An emergency £210 million compensation package was announced by the European Commission last week and following lobbying by the NFU the package has received ministerial approval, meaning that growers in the UK are able to claim for crops taken off the market between June 18 and 30.

But is does not include produce sold at low prices or dumped.

Mr Folkard said: “We’ve seen a significant dip in sales of prepared produce over the last four weeks, partly due to the unsettled weather, but certainly due to consumer scepticism and reluctance to eat produce.

“This is a real shame. British produce is grown to the highest quality and rigorous procedures are in place to ensure standards are maintained.

“While this EC package is well received it doesn’t compensate for produce withdrawn prior to June 18, it doesn’t support fresh produce distributors and it’s not going to build consumer confidence to eat fresh produce.

More must be done.”

The Journal reported earlier this month that Kane’s trade had suffered due to the outbreak, with beansprout sales down by 40 per cent shortly after the news broke.