Suffolk and Essex farmers block Port of Felixstowe to fight for fair prices for British produce
23rd January 2026
As the Port of Felixstowe wakes to another busy day, Suffolk and Essex farmers have been up all night highlighting concerns over foreign food imports and fighting for fair prices for their produce.
Over 15 farmers gathered at the Port of Felixstowe at midnight on 23rd January to express their dissatisfaction with current food policy.
20-year-old Suffolk farm worker Spencer Campbell said: “We want to stop substandard cheap foreign imports. We’re getting various meats and also grains coming over to this country which are grown to lower standards than our own. We’re here also to continue our fight against IHT.”
Two Essex farmers, Robert Blyth and John Mitchell, added: “We’re here as part of a nationwide protest against the government’s foreign imports that are coming into the country that don’t meet our standards.
“Our hope is that the government will listen for a change.”
❌ Farmers from Suffolk and Essex have been blocking the Port of Felixstowe since midnight, calling for fair prices for the food they produce and for imported food to meet British standards ❌#SuffolkFarmers #EssexFarmers #FairFoodPrices #FarmersProtest #AgricultureMatters… pic.twitter.com/8KPVoLxjlO
— Farmers Guide (@FarmersGuide) January 23, 2026
Protest at Felixstowe Port
Farmers across the UK have been blocking supermarket depots to raise awareness of foreign imports and to pressure the government to demand fair prices from retailers for food produced on British farms.
Another participant of the Suffolk protest, Harry Suckling, said: “Last night and also the night before, various groups around the UK have been protesting in significant distribution areas and ports.
“We’re standing in front of what I believe is our biggest port in the country, so what better place is there to show that there’s a lot of unfairness in the food supply chain at the moment?”
Mr Suckling hopes the protest will keep the issue in the public eye and encourage shoppers to choose British produce over cheaper imports.
The farmers have been protesting peacefully, with police officers in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Participants say they feel supported by the public, including lorry drivers who have stopped to chat and show their solidarity.
READ MORE: ‘Partial U-turn is nowhere near enough,’ say farmers who protested in London today
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