RISING numbers of vegetable growers are likely to leave the industry as their struggles have fallen on ‘deaf ears’ in government, a senior figure in the farming industry has warned.
Dougie Richardson, vice-president of the Jersey Farmers’ Union, said local farmers were unable to compete against heavily-subsidised European suppliers, and criticised the government’s failure to support the industry as it was confirmed that one of the Island’s largest growers will stop supplying Island retailers next month.
Having signalled earlier this year that a move away from vegetable-growing was highly likely, Charlie Gallichan, of Woodside Farms, said the decision was now confirmed.
He said: ‘We’ve looked at the numbers and confirmed that we will stop growing vegetables.
‘We won’t be planting anything further – we’ll still be harvesting crops and supplying stores for a short time, but at some point in the next six weeks, that will be that.’
Mr Gallichan said Woodside Farms would continue to operate as a grower of cereals and other crops, while the Woodside Flowers and Farm Shop – a separate business – would also carry on trading as before. No jobs would be lost, he added.
After previously stating that diversifying into medicinal cannabis growing was one of a number of options being considered, Mr Gallichan said this week that no definite decisions had been made regarding future plans.
Having produced up to 4,000 tonnes of vegetables annually, the company’s decision leaves the Island increasingly reliant on imported supplies. Mr Richardson, whose family have farmed in Jersey for centuries, said the news was disappointing and a result of ‘a lack of support’ for farmers dating back at least 20 years.
He said: ‘Jersey farmers are at a huge disadvantage compared with their heavily-subsidised European counterparts.
‘It’s a very competitive market and local growers can’t compete on these terms – I can see why Charlie has made this decision.
‘We’ve been warning for 20 years that this was what would happen, but we’ve had a new breed of more urban politicians who’ve lost the connection with the farming industry and don’t understand the ramifications of this, so the warnings have fallen on deaf ears.’
Deputy Kirsten Morel, whose brief as Assistant Economic Development Minister included responsibility for the Economic Framework for the Rural Environment, published last month, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the decision taken by Woodside Farms.
He said: ‘It’s true that there’s been 20 years of continued lack of investment from the government into farming – it’s miraculous there are any farmers still based in Jersey given the headwinds they’ve had to face.’
Deputy Morel said that be believed the situation had been turned around in the past two years, with significant investment from the government and an expansion of the scope of support to include products grown in glasshouses and under plastic, egg producers and those who operate smallholdings.
‘It’s awful to lose Woodside Farms as a [vegetable] grower, but we have companies like Master Farms and La Chasse Produce, as well as several smallholdings, who I think will serve as the base for reviving the sector, and I hope the next government will continue to recognise the importance of farming to the Island,’ he said.
Mr Richardson said he felt it was inevitable that a higher proportion of vegetables sold in Jersey would be imported, and was concerned about the ageing demographic of the Island’s farmers.
Several other farmers will continue growing vegetables and supplying local retailers.
Christine Hellio, who runs Manor Farm in St Ouen with her husband Didier, said: ‘We are continuing as we are, doing everything that we normally do. We are all set up for winter vegetables, as it fits in well with the Jersey Royal season and is good for the soil.
‘It’s a shame that Woodside will be stopping – we’ve always worked very closely with them, and helped each other out – but businesses have to take the decisions that are right for them.’
Mrs Hellio said that Manor Farm was operating at its maximum capacity and that it wasn’t feasible to expand the business in the wake of Woodside Farm’s decision.
