To squabble over chocolate or a British cucumber seems like such a trivial thing; however, for the UK contemplating an exit from the EU, the battle between the two is about power, monopoly, and economic injustice.  The power in the chocolate category is through the European continent countries of Belgium, Germany and France, the so-called chocolate fiefdoms, who take on a purist approach (i.e. chocolate manufactured from cocoa butter), that British chocolate is not really chocolate at all (contains five percent non-cocoa vegetable fat along with cocoa butter) (Rogers, 1999).  The 1973 EU’s ruling supported this notion; the British could consume their Cadbury bars within country but prohibited the export of this lesser chocolate to the European continent (Asian Wall Street Journal, 1997).  My personal view, I appreciate a good piece of dark chocolate, European or American-made does not matter, mirror Britain’s Cadbury response, if you do not like our chocolate do not buy it.  The sad story of this British and EU brouhaha is that corporations, consumers, and chocolate markets establish guidelines based on their views and quality of a given product, while the poor and poverty stricken South Sudanese, producers of a cocoa butter equivalent in the fiefdoms’ chocolates are not even an afterthought (Rogers, 1999).

            Britain’s self-induced five portions daily of fruits and vegetables, of which cucumbers were part of the intake is a surprise, the EU provides a large staple of the Brits’ fruits and vegetable.  To counteract the rise in imported fruits and vegetables from the continent with a Brexit, British farmers are encouraged to boost fruits and vegetables such as apples, cucumbers, spinach, mushrooms, cherries etc. (McEwan, 2018).

            Rules of Origin will be a big player in any trade agreement of any food and drink items between the UK and the EU.  The rules stipulated that a food or drink item manufactured in the UK must be 100 percent locally made to receive preferential tariff rates, if not; the rates will not be favorable (Coyne 2018).

            Technology is hopeful in supporting the UK’s boost in fruits and vegetables.  Imported technology from Finland and Norway utilizes a glass house method producing artificial light.  This practice produces a larger crop and a longer harvest season, which will erase any EU food and vegetable import deficit (Farmer’s Guardian, 2003).

v/r

Bryan Robertson #4102640

Bibliography

Coyne, A. (2018, Mar 16). UK food industry bodies issue warning on ‘rules of origin’ post-brexit . Just – Food Global News Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/2014343764?accountid=8289.  Accessed April 10, 2019.

No truffling matter. (1997, Dec 05). Asian Wall Street Journal Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/docview/315599524?accountid=8289.  Accessed April 10, 2019.

McEwan, Gavin. 2018. “Could the Agriculture Bill Refocus Farm Support towards Fresh Produce?” Horticulture Week, January, 29. http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip&db=bth&AN=127677061&site=ehost-live&scope=site.  Accessed April 10, 2019. Rogers, P. (1999). EU chocolate regs to unlock doors in three years. Candy Industry, 164(10), 35-40. https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/docview/218751467?accountid=8289.  Accessed April 10, 2019.