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GIMA Awards Roll of Honour & Full Glee New Products Directory in GTN November issue - read online here
Customer Voting for The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Team gets underway with hundreds of on-line votes already submitted
Our biggest ever Christmas judging journey begins
Thank you to the Sponsors of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2024
New Environmental Horticulture Group (EHG) reports set out sector delivery plan and key new data
Further recognition for RocketGro, as it takes home accolades at two top industry events
Ben Reid Garden Centre implements WinRetail
Flopro's Cobra poised to strike in 2025
GCA reveals ‘encouraging’ October figures for members
HTA and FPC ask for urgent action on border crisis
Dobbies Antrim to remain open
Forest Garden secures global health and safety award
Garden centre sales down during challenging conditions
Homebase – a recollection and a hope
Great potential for Autohydrate Smart Bracket
Spring Fair to expand fashion sector with addition of Pure
Shining spotlight on best bellwether brands
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Renowned garden designer Pip Probert to speak at APL Awards 202
YPHA seeks expressions of interest for 2025-2026 sponsorship positions
Top Yorkshire flower show calls for entries to its Show Gardens and Creative Borders showcase
Ten companies named finalists for IGOTY Awards
The best of last week's
Kent garden centre announces closure
The Gardens Group and Plymouth GC join Future Marketing Group
Greenfingers Charity announces its 2025 challenge
Garden centre group donates over £11,000 to charities
Quinton Edwards celebrates 35 years
G Plants welcomes Andy Lewis as Regional Account Manager
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GIMA Buyers Guide & New Product Digest Autumn 2024
Glee: 50 years of influence, read GTN's Glee Review Issue on-line
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HTA and FPC ask for urgent action on border crisis

The Horticultural Trades Association and the Fresh Produce Consortium have escalated calls for action, submitting their 10 asks to the Environment Secretary, Rt Hon Steve Reed MP. This follows Defra’s failure to reply to the previous joint letter to the government, which was sent over a month ago. The letter called for urgent action following a ministerial roundtable meeting on plants, cut flowers, and border-related issues held on 4 October 2024. 

 

In the letter, the HTA and FPC emphasise the vital role of horticulture and fresh produce, contributing significantly to the UK economy, food security, and environmental sustainability. The joint letter highlights substantial obstacles to the trade of both edibles, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and non-edible plants, including cut flowers, planting materials, finished plants, trees, shrubs, bulbs, and seeds. Issues such as rising logistics costs, damaged goods, delays, increased waste, and complex paperwork severely impact sector growth and investment in the future. 

 

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs at HTA, commented: “The lack of urgency in taking action or even replying is hugely concerning, especially when we are near daily presenting evidence and issues to those responsible for making the border function. It is not just frustrating, but costly and damaging for businesses facing lost stock, hiked costs, delayed supply chains and impacts on customer relationships. This is all now on top of the triple hit of costs resulting from the Autumn Budget announcements on national insurance, living wage and other taxes. Our asks are constructive, clear and achievable. We need the government to work immediately with the HTA and FPC, listen to our members, and take swift action to safeguard UK horticulture and its benefits to the economy, the environment, individuals, and communities.”

 

Nigel Jenney, CEO of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said: “My message to the government is clear - we simply need an affordable and effective biosecure border which meets the needs of industry and consumers. Not even replying shows that the UK border strategy imposed by the previous government is an overwhelming and ongoing failure and that this government has no sense of urgency or appreciation of the impacts despite us providing vast amounts of evidence. Whilst they continue to procrastinate, Rome is burning.

 

“We are a dynamic and proactive sector, having invested in effective self-funded border solutions. Our ability to deliver the food and wellbeing is clearly not recognised by this government. It’s now 6 months since the launch, and nothing has changed. It is well over a month since we met Ministers and submitted our asks. This Government can and must resolve this chaos.”

 

On 20 September, the HTA requested a meeting with Defra to allow both HTA and FPC members to present their concerns and discuss solutions. They met with Baroness Hayman on 3 October, formally submitting joint asks on 21 October.  

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