Oral Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
“What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme on fruit and vegetable growers.”
Tabled: 12 June 2025Answered: 19 June 2025
Asked by
Dr Luke Evans
Conservative — Hinckley and Bosworth
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Answer from Hansard
The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs (Daniel Zeichner)
The fruit and vegetables aid scheme is an EU legacy scheme, and it closes in England on 1 January 2026. It is available only via producer organisations —that was an EU requirement—and only 20% of growers are benefiting from it; 80% get no benefit. All growers will continue to benefit from the farming innovation programme’s £63 million of grants, and the five-year extension to the seasonal workers visa scheme that we have announced.