New action plan is a boost for FUWS 'Buy the Welsh one' campaign

The Welsh Assembly Government’s launch today of an action plan to make it easier for consumers to buy local food was described by the Farmers’ Union of Wales as a boost for its efforts to get people to "Buy The Welsh One".

The FUW made an important contribution in helping to draft the action plan - "Local Sourcing Action Plan - Food and Drink for Wales" - which Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said demonstrated the Assembly Government’’s commitment to local produce.

"The union launched its ’’Help Cut Food Miles...Buy The Welsh One’’ campaign at the 2007 Royal Welsh Show so this new action plan is a very welcome move," said FUW finance and organisation committee member Lorraine Howells, one of a group of South Wales Valleys farmers running their own butcher’s shop.

"We are pleased the plan will complement the Assembly Government’s work to improve the quality and nutritional value of food available in Welsh hospitals and improve food and drink in Welsh schools.

"The amount of food procured locally by the NHS and the Ministry of Defence increased by 12 and 16 per cent respectively last year but Defra figures revealed UK food self sufficiency fell in 2007 to 60 per cent while 25 per cent of food purchased is imported when it could be produced in the UK.

"The need for more local procurement to support our own food and farming sector is well recognised yet some bodies and local authorities seem uninterested," Miss Howells added.

"For example, many authorities have driven people away from using local food businesses in our town centres by plastering the streets with double yellow lines.

"For years we have been told that European rules stand in the way of ensuring local procurement, but that just doesn’t work anymore. What we need is a public sector that leads by example.

"Buying locally should be seen as an investment in our local environments and economies to provide our schoolchildren and others with the best food there is.

"Welsh farmers have the most stringent animal welfare and environmental rules imposed on them and yet the NHS, MoD and many local authorities still spend public money on food produced to standards that would be illegal in Wales.

"That is simply unacceptable," added Miss Howells.

The action plan includes support for the development of farmers markets and the development of the production and processing sectors, encouraging producers to diversify to meet local demand, developing community food projects and Food Hubs, encouraging all sectors to source more local food and drink and ensuring high levels of food safety and hygiene.

It also complements the forthcoming strategic plan to improve the quality of food consumed in Wales, as well as policy aims relating to economic development, community regeneration and environment and social sustainability.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Lorraine Howells can be contacted on (Home) 01685 840498 or (Mobile) 07968 312 629. Also, a picture of Lorraine Howells is attached.

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