Introduction
According to the Horticultural Trades Association (u201cHTAu201d), British farmers produce 3.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables every year on 153,000 hectares of land.u00a0 In addition, British farmers grow 14,000 hectares of plants and flowers.u00a0 The farm gate value of UK fruit, vegetables, plants and flowers is around u00a33.5 billion.u00a0 The horticulture sector has formed an essential part of British life for over 350 years and the UK horticulture industry employs approximately 40,000 permanent workers, plus 70,000 seasonal workers each year.