HC Deb 23 June 2003 vol 407 cc536-7W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average(a) farmgate and (b) retail price was of (i) one kilogramme of (A) cherries, (B) tomatoes, (C) cucumbers, (D) cheese, (E) strawberries, (F) raspberries, (G) blackberries, (H) blackcurrants, (I) redcurrants, (J) butter, (K) pork pies, (L) chicken, (M) smoked salmon and (N) new potatoes, (ii) one pint of (1) cider, (2) English wine, (3) Pimms and (4) yoghurt and (iii) one dozen eggs was in (t) 1975, (u) 1980, (v) 1985, (w) 1990, (x) 1995, (y) 2000 and (z) in 2002 figures. [119157]

Mr. Bradshaw

Farmgate and retail prices of these foodstuffs, where available, are shown in table 1. Neither farmgate nor retail prices are available for redcurrants, pork pies, smoked salmon, cider, English wine, Pimms or yogurt. Small quantities of butter, cheese and yogurt are sold at the farm gate direct to consumers at retail prices.

The amount of processing taking place between farmgate and retail varies from commodity to commodity; an indication is given in the table. Farmgate prices include produce destined for highly processed food, which is normally lower quality and sells at a lower price. Changes to the level of processing over time will impact on the trends shown within the table.

3 Data not available

4 Source: ONS

5 Cheddar cheese

6 Home produced butter; excludes butter imported from Denmark, New Zealand and other countries.

7 Fresh chicken; excludes frozen chickens.

8 Farmgate values are for earliest potatoes; retail values are for new potatoes.

9 Farmgate values are averages values for all eggs; retail values are for size 2 eggs.

10 £/dozen