School dinners across the Highlands could be hit by post-Brexit produce shortages, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said yesterday.
The Minister’s warning came as he visited Swanson’s Food Wholesalers, in Inverness, which has a contract to supply schools across the Highland Council area.
Last night the local authority said it would “tailor” menus if supplies of certain fruit and vegetables became unavailable in the wake of the UK’s exit from the EU.
Mr Ewing said: “Swansons are a major wholesaler of fruit and veg and dairy in the Highlands – schools from John o’ Groats to Glencoe, from Skye to Grantown, are supplied from this company. I understand the owner, Magnus Swanson, is very concerned about importation taxes and tariffs which could render the business he does uneconomic or unviable for some of the produce, thereby perhaps possibly even threatening the availability of food in schools on a short term.
“The thing about supplying to a school is you have to get the food there every day, otherwise the kids don’t get fed. I certainly hope it isn’t a serious risk, but it can be avoided by avoiding Brexit.”
He continued: “The other main issue is the availability of people from outwith Scotland, from countries such as Poland, to continue to work here and also in suppliers to Swansons in the producer sector.
“There are many people who come to Scotland who work pretty hard and make a good contribution, so they are an asset not a liability.”
Mr Swanson said: “The Highland schools is a big contract for us and if there are to be tariffs on products that would reduce our margins and make it less cost-effective.
“Schools may also decide to stop stocking some products if the price goes up.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “If we find that there are shortages of certain fruit and vegetables we will tailor our school menus accordingly to meet the locally sourced supplies that are available while meeting the legislative nutritional requirements of school meal provision.
“Our supplier Swansons, Inverness will be able to supply local milk, eggs, potatoes and winter vegetables – all sourced locally.”