Supermarkets fail British apple growers

25 November 2002

More than half of the apples on sale at the height of the British apple season in most major supermarkets are imported. In a survey released by Friends of the Earth it is also found that supermarkets put a significant mark-up at checkouts compared to the price received by apple growers. Greengrocers and market stalls offered shoppers cheaper apples.

Although supermarkets offered slightly more choice of apple varieties than greengrocers and markets, this was due to the number of imported apples on offer. However none of the outlets offered more than three varieties of British apple. This reflects a decline in the choice of native fruit. There used to be thousands of varieties of home-grown apples in Britain, but many now only exist in the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, Kent.

The survey confirms that supermarkets are not backing British growers despite consumer demand. An opinion poll published by Friends of the Earth reveals that the majority of the British public think supermarkets are giving farmers a raw deal. Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) think farmers are not paid enough by supermarkets for the food they produce. And more than four-fifths (84 per cent) want the supermarkets to give preference to UK products over imported products when in season.

Importing apples increases the environmental impact - with some apples travelling 20,000 km before they arrive on our shelves. Buying local produce also supports British growers. Key results show that:

• Less than half the apples sold in major supermarkets were British, with the exception of one outlet (Marks & Spencer stocked 56 per cent British apples)
• On average, less than a third of apples were British in Co-op, Morrisons and Safeway stores
• A significant proportion of apples were imported from outside the EU, including New Zealand, Australia and the US
• Waitrose, Tesco, Safeway and Sainsbury's were the only supermarkets to sell any British organic apples
• Supermarkets, greengrocers and markets only offered an average of three varieties of British apples. Supermarkets offered an average of eight varieties of apples from all countries of origin. Waitrose offered 12 varieties
• Both Cox and Bramley apples are cheaper in greengrocers and on market stalls than in the supermarket. For example, Cox apples cost 43 pence more per kg in a supermarket than on a market stall
• There is a significant mark-up between the farm gate and supermarket shelf for Cox apples
• Only market stalls and greengrocers sold local produce. Where supermarkets did state county of origin, none were from the local area.

"Shoppers and farmers are getting a raw deal from the supermarkets this autumn. The British public have made it clear that they want British produce when it is in season, but supermarkets are still filling their shelves with imported apples. They should be offering shoppers a wide choice of British varieties," said Friends of the Earth's Food and Farming Campaigner, Sandra Bell. "What is more, supermarkets are the most expensive place to buy apples, but they do not pass on a fair price to the growers. Until supermarkets back British produce, shoppers should look elsewhere for their fruit."

Supermarket League Table (percentage of apple lines sourced from UK, EU, Non-EU in supermarkets 2002)

Supermarkets versus markets and greengrocers (percentage of apples sourced from UK, EU, non-EU by outlet type)

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