British asparagus growers and packers met in London recently to review the 2008 PR campaign for the vegetable, now in its sixth year. Demand from British consumers "remained very strong for home grown asparagus and trip spend and volume per customer increased". However "tricky" growing conditions meant a slightly later start to the season. The campaign theme 'Quick & Easy' successfully debunked the myth that asparagus is difficult to cook with.
Plimsoll has reported some more bad news for fresh produce companies, saying that up to 3500 jobs are under threat in the industry over the next 12 months due to the economic situation in the UK. The jobs could go "as companies seek to get costs in line with sales," said Plimsoll, adding that up to three-quarters of the firms it looked at would need to reduce their head count. The firm found that 200 companies were rated in the "danger" category, meaning they would need to consolidate "immediately".
Manufacturers as well as consumers are increasingly demanding to know provenance of the potatoes they buy, according to specialist grower and processor Parripak Foods. The firm is now harvesting three varieties of potato in 165 acres of Bedfordshire soil. The firm's Dominic Pleasance said that if its suppliers suffer low yields, it can use its own crop.
Has the number of customer complaints about the price of goods increased recently?
