LABOUR has pledged to give supermarket salad growers in Harlow their future back.
During a visit to supermarket salad producers in Nazeing, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Reed MP, and Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of Harlow, Chris Vince, met with the owners of Valley Grown Nurseries.
Over the duration of the trip, Steve Reed outlined Labour’s plans to deliver a "new deal for farmers" which the part claims will put money in the pockets of food producers in Harlow.
This includes seeking a veterinary agreement with the European Union to cut red tape and costs at our borders and get our great British food exports moving again.
The party also wants to ensure at least half of all food procured by hospitals, prisons and other public bodies is British by using the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce with local or sustainably produced food.
Nazeing, within Harlow Parliamentary Constituency, grows and supplies around 80 million cucumbers or 75 per cent of the UK crop to supermarkets.
At Valley Grown Nurseries discussions were held to listen to the concerns over expensive energy costs and a lack of investment in the horticulture sector.
Valley Grown Nurseries grow tomatoes, aubergines and peppers for British supermarkets under 22 acres of glasshouse at their site in Nazeing.
Steve Reed OBE MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “Red tape at the borders and eye watering energy bills have forced thousands of farmers out of business, losing thousands of agricultural jobs.
“Labour will give British farmers their future back and create jobs in rural areas.
"We will cut energy bills for farmers by switching on GB Energy, slash red tape at our borders to get food exports moving again and use the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce.”
Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Harlow, Chris Vince added: “These nurseries in Nazeing are nationally important helping the UK to develop the security of our food supply chain.
"The growers in the Lea Valley area directly employ around 2,500 people and Labour is the party of businesses like these helping them to invest and thrive in our town.
"As a vegetarian, I was pleased to eat one of the best tomatoes I’ve ever eaten.”
Chris Vince (Lab) is standing in the upcoming Harlow Council elections for Little Parndon and Town Centre, as well as Tony Durcan (Lab), Maggie Hulcoop (Lab), Klara Bow (Green), Caroline Schellin-Jolley (Green), Danielle Kemm (Green), Dan Brown (Con), Geoffrey Longster (Con), and Anne Richards (Con).
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