Challenge
Red Tractor needed to understand what audit burden really looks like for fresh produce growers, where duplication exists across schemes and where there are opportunities to reduce unnecessary pressure on members. The challenge was to quantify burden while also understanding how it is experienced.
Approach
We surveyed nearly 200 fresh produce growers to quantify time, cost, preparation effort, inspection burden and frustrations across Red Tractor and other major schemes. The study was designed to identify where burden was greatest, how it differed by grower type and where requirements felt duplicative, disproportionate or misaligned with day-to-day reality.
Outcome
The research showed that burden is not simply about the number of schemes held, but about whether requirements feel relevant, proportionate and joined up in practice. It gave Red Tractor a clearer evidence base for understanding frustration, identifying duplication and shaping more strategic conversations with retailers, processors and government.