Rural Support Plan (RSP) - Annex

Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme

Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme - RP&S guidance

Description

The Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme provides financial support to groups of fruit and vegetable growers recognised as Producer Organisations

Purpose

The Scottish Government is committed to a thriving rural Scotland and to supporting quality output from our valuable fruit and vegetable sector with the associated nutritional benefits. Growing fruit and vegetables economically in Scottish conditions is a skilled and difficult task, with tight margins making it difficult for growers to turn a profit or improve methods of production. This scheme encourages producers to work collaboratively, taking advantage of economies of scale, and investment from the scheme to investigate more efficient, effective and sustainable methods of production, to increase the quality and quantity of what they produce, increasing business viability and profitability and supporting local communities and the rural economy through the production and sale of fruit and vegetables, locally produced, key to health and wellbeing

Contribution to Strategic Outcomes

High Quality Food Production

• Encourages collaborative working including investment in large capital items or research and development enabling growers to increase the quality of their produce

Enabling Thriving Rural Communities

• Encourages collaborative investment in infrastructure, technology and innovation, increasing business viability and contribution to rural communities and the rural economy.
• Enables growers to harvest produce that responds to consumer demand and preference for environmentally friendly and health-conscious options.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

• Increases domestic production and therefore food miles and the carbon footprint associated with produce is reduced. Facilitates initiatives for mitigating and adapting to climate challenges, e.g. investment in centralised, energy-efficient cold storage facilities resulting in reduced and extended seasons replacing imports with domestically grown produce.
• Environmental actions must be included in operational programmes in order to receive funding. Programmes can include water management strategies, energy efficiency, and renewable energy adoption.

Support for a Just Transition

• Encourages collaborative investment in infrastructure, technology and innovation, increasing business viability and contribution to rural communities and the rural economy.

Method

Applications via FV3 form

Key dates

Operational programmes run for 3 years. The deadline for new operational programme applications, or changes to future years of existing operational programmes, is 15 September. Implementation of new operational programmes commence on 1 January, every 3 years. Up to 3 arrears claims may be submitted by a producer organisation between 1 January and 31 December of the programme year and by the end of the first month of the quarter for advance payments. Annuals claims for a scheme year must be made by 15 February of the following year. The final date for payment of annual claims is 15 October.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for funding, an organisation must first be recognised as a producer organisation. Recognition is based on criteria such as structure, governance, and minimum membership thresholds.

Requirements

• Recognised producer organisations must submit operational programmes that meet legislative criteria and are in line with the National Strategy for Sustainable Operational Programmes

Baseline payment information

Budget circa £5.6M per annum

No. of recipients 4 POs