The report quantifies the scale and scope of the fresh produce, potato and horticultural industry across the five counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. It highlights the diversity of the industry within the region, the significant contribution it makes to the regional economy and the scale of employment it creates.
Read the summary of the Heart of Horticulture report
Download the full Heart of Horticulture report
The value of UK horticulture is around £2.6 billion, 14% of which is produced in the West Midlands.
The reason for carrying out the research and producing the report was to
- Produce robust statistics on the value and impact of the sector
- Provide an assessment of sector competitiveness and viability, and
- Set out an Action Plan identifying the key issues that need to be addressed by the sector in the 10 years to 2021.
All of the Action Plan asks are key areas of policy that the NFU horticulture & potatoes team is actively lobbying on. Many of these asks are recommendations within the NFU's 2015 General Election manifesto.
Defra, Wychavon District Council, the Horticultural Development Company, the Potato Council, the NFU and many others not least growers, contributed to the study carried out by EFFP.