'Vicious circle of rising costs is fuelling crisis for traders'

Increased prices for food ingredients and fertilizers are still pushing up costs for traders, farmers and consumers leading to a "vicious circle" fuelling a "cost-of-living crisis", a cheesemonger said.

Steve Reid who owns The Northampton Cheese Company and The Northampton Charcuterie Company, told Politics East that some ingredients his companies use have more than doubled in price.

While Philip Weston, a farmer from Hartwell, Northamptonshire, warned of further protests by farmers saying "The government is not doing enough to help us . If the cost of fertiliser doesn't come down we are seriously looking at drawing back on arable crop production."

A spokesperson for the government said it was working with farmers to ensure "the sector gets the backing it needs".

Reid, 57, who runs his businesses from Northampton Market, said it has been a challenging time for his companies due to the rising cost of ingredients.

"For example, dried apricots just over 12 months ago were £35 for a 12kg box, now they're £100 a box.

"Sultanas - they've gone from £23 a 10kg box to about £60, so everything has virtually doubled," he said.

His companies produce chutneys, sauces and cheeses and he sells other local produce, such as bread, eggs and honey, from his market stall.

He added: "If we have to increase our prices the cost-of-living crisis affects everybody and it's even more difficult to sell the products - so it's a very vicious circle."

Weston, 40, who took part in blockades outside transport hubs and food depots earlier this year to campaign for better support for the agricultural industry, said he plans to take part in more protests to highlight the challenges the sector is facing.

"If we go out again and protest it will prove to the British public that we are still there," he said

Weston, who farms 300 acres (121 hectares) of land, said: "The Labour government did have an option to draw back on the planned fertilizer tax that they were proposing.

"They chose not too. Change needs to be brought about now."

He added: "We need to put a higher value on the produce that we actually have here in this country.

"We're seeing meat being imported into this country in huge numbers and we simply aren't competitive with their cost of productions, we can't cope with that."

Maria Agachi, who moved to Northampton from Moldova and shops at Northampton Market, said: "I came to England five years ago and I remember the salt was around 30p now it's £1 and something, just the normal products we're buying from the shops is increasing.

"I can't say that I really take an awful lot of notice, if I want it then I get it, what I spent today probably hasn't been any more than what I'd normally spend so I don't suppose it's much different.

"Everything seems to be going up, rocketing. I'm looking for the bargains basically, chicken seems to be a good bargain these days - so I eat more chicken than red meat these days, just looking after the pennies."

A government spokesperson said: ""This government is working closely with farming stakeholders, including the NFU, to make sure the sector gets the backing it needs.

"The government has taken action to support greater price transparency by asking the Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board to increase the frequency of its fertiliser price reporting and we welcome its move to now publish this data on a weekly basis.

"We have also extended the 5p fuel duty cut until September, with red diesel benefiting from an 80% tax discount, saving farmers around £300m a year."

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