More peas please

We all know the importance of eating healthy, fresh food but did you know that UK veg production has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years?
And it seems the Covid-19 pandemic has got us concerned at getting enough, with a new report from the Peas Please initiative revealing that under lockdown, 25 per cent of households with children are worried about accessing enough fruit and vegetables.
The new report, produced by the Food Foundation in partnership with Nourish Scotland, Food Sense Wales and Food NI, revealed that UK vegetable production fell by 12 per cent between 2017-2018, with 2018 seeing the lowest level of domestic horticulture production for over 20 years. The UK supplies just 52.7 per cent of the veg consumed at home, with the majority of imported vegetables coming from Spain and the Netherlands.
Anna Taylor, Executive Director of the Food Foundation, commented: “Now more than ever, we must have an Agriculture Bill which supports public health, as well as environmental benefit. We need a national plan to get us all eating enough fruit and veg to protect our health and British horticulture could play an important part.”
Baroness Rosie Boycott added: “Our nation’s health also needs to be prioritised. Government should give businesses that are promoting healthy eating a head start, rebuild our nation’s horticulture sector and put in place much more robust economic safety net so that everyone can afford a diet which protects their health.”