Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
07/06/2007
Absolute Disgust at Dolgellau Store’s Meat Policy
NFU Cymru is absolutely disgusted that the Somerfield store in Dolgellau is stocking imported lamb and beef on its shelves. Brazilian beef and New Zealand lamb are being offered to the town's consumers in favour, it seems, of locally produced Welsh meat, which meets the highest quality assurance standards.
Richard Evans, NFU Cymru's Chairman for Meirionnydd said, "There is very real anger that a supermarket in a town such as Dolgellau, which is dependent on the farming industry, is stocking imported beef and lamb cuts which have travelled thousands of miles to reach Wales.
"There is a steady supply of Welsh beef throughout the year and there is currently an ample supply of Welsh lamb, yet stores such as Somerfield seem to have no policy of regularly stocking locally produced food. How can we promote an excellent, world-renowned product such as Welsh lamb to visitors if they cannot find it on the shelves of local outlets?"
Somerfield are crucifying local farmers and displaying a total disregard for the local community and economy upon whom they depend for their custom. If Somerfield want the support of local people then they should equally support the local farming industry.
NFU Cymru has written to Somerfield asking that they reverse the policy of stocking imported lamb and beef. Concerns over the traceability of beef from Brazil, where foot and mouth disease is prevalent in certain areas of the country, as well as the detrimental environmental impact of transporting produce to Wales over thousands of miles were also highlighted in NFU Cymru's letter to the store. There are severe question marks over the traceability of this imported product from a country where the use of cattle growth hormones is still commonplace.
Richard Evans added, "Dolgellau is a rural town and many of Somerfield's customers are farmers or have strong links to farming. However, the store chooses to ignore the significant effect a policy such as theirs has on lamb and beef prices in the immediate area and the knock on effect it has on the income of farmers in Dolgellau and throughout the whole of Meirionnydd. It is ironic that the store is located next door to one of Wales' premier livestock markets.
"I would urge Somerfield, and indeed all retailers, not to turn their backs on home-reared beef and lamb in favour of cheaper imports or they run the risk of losing the Welsh lamb and beef industries altogether."
Richard Evans, NFU Cymru's Chairman for Meirionnydd said, "There is very real anger that a supermarket in a town such as Dolgellau, which is dependent on the farming industry, is stocking imported beef and lamb cuts which have travelled thousands of miles to reach Wales.
"There is a steady supply of Welsh beef throughout the year and there is currently an ample supply of Welsh lamb, yet stores such as Somerfield seem to have no policy of regularly stocking locally produced food. How can we promote an excellent, world-renowned product such as Welsh lamb to visitors if they cannot find it on the shelves of local outlets?"
Somerfield are crucifying local farmers and displaying a total disregard for the local community and economy upon whom they depend for their custom. If Somerfield want the support of local people then they should equally support the local farming industry.
NFU Cymru has written to Somerfield asking that they reverse the policy of stocking imported lamb and beef. Concerns over the traceability of beef from Brazil, where foot and mouth disease is prevalent in certain areas of the country, as well as the detrimental environmental impact of transporting produce to Wales over thousands of miles were also highlighted in NFU Cymru's letter to the store. There are severe question marks over the traceability of this imported product from a country where the use of cattle growth hormones is still commonplace.
Richard Evans added, "Dolgellau is a rural town and many of Somerfield's customers are farmers or have strong links to farming. However, the store chooses to ignore the significant effect a policy such as theirs has on lamb and beef prices in the immediate area and the knock on effect it has on the income of farmers in Dolgellau and throughout the whole of Meirionnydd. It is ironic that the store is located next door to one of Wales' premier livestock markets.
"I would urge Somerfield, and indeed all retailers, not to turn their backs on home-reared beef and lamb in favour of cheaper imports or they run the risk of losing the Welsh lamb and beef industries altogether."
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
New Holland TSA100 - Omagh(GBP 25200)
John Deere - 6830P TRACTOR - Norwich(GBP 37750)
John Deere W540 - Thame
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
David Brown 990 - Peterborough(GBP 3300)
Massey Ferguson - 6270 - Carnforth
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Related News
Store’s Branding U-turn Meets with NFU Cymru Approval - 16 Jul 2007Somerfield's decision to rebrand its Welsh meat at stores across Mid and North Wales has been warmly welcomed by NFU Cymru. The store's po...
Absolute honesty needed in the labelling of pork products - 27 May 2010A call for more honesty in the marketing of pork and bacon, to safeguard the on-farm progress made in pig welfare, has been made by Nigel Woolfenden, ...
ARLA price cut disgusts me - 07 Jun 2006Ongoing competition in the middle ground liquid milk market, exacerbated by retail price cuts is the real reason Arla has reduced the price it pays fo...
RABDF disgusted at Defra’s alleged bTB decision - 07 Jul 2008The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has acted angrily to Defra's alleged decision against a badger cull in England to control bTB in ca...
Science dictating policies on red meat issues must be incorruptible - 08 Feb 2010The National Beef Association has warned international and national government food policy specialists, they must not to be tricked into making flawed...
Free range victim of store wars - 22 Jan 2006Up to 8p a dozen has been knocked off the retail price of free range eggs as leading supermarkets battle for supremacy in the value-for-money stakes. ...
Top stores “cheat” vegetarians with cage eggs - 23 Nov 2003Leading supermarkets have admitted that they are still using cage eggs in their own-brand vegetarian meals. And labelling is so vague that hundreds...
Watch for rots as potato stores fill - 03 Nov 2005Potato growers have been warned to be on the look-out for rotting tubers appearing soon after stores are loaded. Localised heavy showers have led to s...
Mey selections includes more farmers in the Highlands and spreads benefits to store producers - 15 Nov 2005Many more cattle breeders throughout the North Highlands will benefit from the improved returns currently being enjoyed by cattle finishers north of I...
Critical time to clean stores - 24 May 2006As grain stores empty in the lead up to harvest Nickerson are recommending that cereal growers get active with their pest control. "Now is the crit...
