Buy British fruit and veg to help economy, minister says 7 January 2014 Last updated at 03:42 Shoppers should buy more British fruit and vegetables to boost the economy, the environment secretary will say. In a speech later, Owen Paterson is expected to say 24% of food eaten in the UK is imported despite "top-class" production on UK soil. He will tell the Oxford Farming Conference that farmers, food manufacturers and the government must "take action" to encourage consumers. The government has taken action to support British farmers, he will add. Mr Paterson will say changes to livestock movement rules will save farmers and taxpayers £70m over 10 years, while reduced bureaucracy will help farmers and improve prevention and control of diseases such as bovine TB. These changes, which follow recommendations from the Task Force on Farming Regulation, will take effect from 2016. Huge opportunity "As British farmers and food producers you know that we grow some of the best food in the world here - so why is 24% of the food eaten in the UK imported when it could be produced here?" he will say. We have a top-class fruit and veg sector which produces everything from green beans to strawberries, yet we imported £8bn of fruit and veg in 2012. We can't grow mangoes or pineapples, but we can encourage UK consumers and food businesses to buy Scottish raspberries or Kent apples. He will say there is currently a "huge opportunity" for farmers, manufacturers and the government to promote UK produce. "By buying seasonal fruit and veg we can improve the nation's health, help the environment and boost the economy," he will add.