Conservative Conference: An apple a day is good for the economy - if it's British

Environment Secretary Liz Truss also backs Wensleydale cheese, Herefordshire pears and black pudding

Liz Truss, the Environment Secretary (Getty Images)

The new Environment Secretary today promised a drive to persuade Britons to eat more home-grown apples, pears and cheese.

Liz Truss won cheers as she told the Tory conference: “I will not rest until the British apple is at the very top of the tree.”

Ms Truss, who was promoted to the Cabinet two months ago, said: “Two-thirds of the apples and nine-tenths of the pears that we eat are imported, not to mention two thirds of the cheese.

“And that is a disgrace. From the apple that dropped on Isaac Newton’s head to the orchards of nursery rhymes, this fruit has always been a part of Britain.

“I want our children to grow up enjoying the taste of British apples as well as Cornish sardines, Norfolk turkey, Melton Mowbray pork pies, Wensleydale cheese, Herefordshire pears and of course black pudding.”

She said she wanted Britain to lead the world in food, farming and the environment.

Ms Truss said she would be in Paris in a fortnight’s time at the world’s largest fair “bigging up British products” and would travel to Beijing in December to negotiate new markets for pork.

“I am determined our farmers and producers will have access to more markets both at home and abroad, generating jobs and security for millions,” she said.

Ms Truss also spoke of her determination to cleaning up rivers, improving air quality and building up flood defences.