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Morrisons has launched a new year-long trial to support farmers by underwriting 100% of the costs associated with growing crops in a £2m investment.
The trial aims to help British farmers mitigate the cost and weather pressures that come from the peaks and troughs of the season, including field rent, fertiliser cost and gives farmers greater financial security with the supermarket chain “shouldering all the risk”.
The supermarket, which is the first to offer such a scheme to farmers, will begin the year-long trial with potato and carrot farmers.
Crops are currently being grown on three potato farms and one carrot farm, with the first produce from these farms due to hit shelves before the end of the year and into 2024.
If successful, Morrisons hopes to roll out this scheme to more farms later next year.
Gareth Cosford, senior buying manager for root vegetables at Morrisons, said: “As British farming’s biggest direct customer we understand the impact that higher costs are continuing to have on farmers. Therefore our trial scheme allows us to take all the risk associated with growing the crop away from our farmers and continue to grow the best quality British produce that our customers know and love.”
Andrew Nash, director at Naish Farms Ltd. added: “Morrisons already buy our whole crop of potatoes from us, taking the top-quality and also misshapen or oversized ones and making them available to customers as part of their naturally wonky range to maximise our return and offering the best value to their customers.
“In farming there are ups and downs throughout the season. For us we are seeing greater weather challenges which may impact our crops and by being part of this new Morrisons trial, they’re underwriting our growing costs to cushion us from the associated risks and provide supply security so that we can focus on growing the very best potatoes for their customers.”
Morrisons is British farming’s biggest direct supermarket customer and works directly with over 2,700 farmers and growers all year round.
