A Welsh farming union has called on all retailers to show their commitment to Welsh lamb to help farmers who are under a 'cloud of uncertainty'.
With Brexit looming and the UK in the middle of a General Election campaign, sheep farmers from across Wales will be gathering at the NSA Welsh Sheep 2017 event in Talybont-on-Usk, Powys under what the NFU Cymru says is a 'cloud of uncertainty'.
As new season lambs come onto the market and in a bid to provide welcome assurances for Welsh farmers, NFU Cymru has asked retailers to back Welsh lamb by adhering to the union’s eight point action plan.
The union is asking retailers to provide a 'clear and transparent' commitment to sourcing Welsh lamb, specifically stating when Welsh lamb will be readily available.
They have asked retailers to ensure that labelling is clear on the origin of lamb and clearly highlighting the PGI status of Welsh lamb, and that there is dedicated shelf space for both Welsh and UK lamb to differentiate between the two.
'Stability and confidence'
Adequate supplies of Welsh lamb available over key religious festivals and a commitment not to product mix or co-mingle lamb products either on shelf or in the packet, the union stated.
The union wants retailers to actively engage with producers to build 'stability and confidence' between producer and retailer.
Retailers are being urged to work together to understand each other’s needs with the aim of delivering Welsh lamb to the consumer for 12 months of the year whilst ensuring an increasing proportion of produce matches the retailers’ desired specification.
Finally, NFU Cymru wants a plan to develop new products to entice more consumers to buy Welsh lamb and to secure greater utilisation of the whole lamb carcass within the UK retail sector. Retailers are being asked to work with meat promotion bodies to market and promote Welsh and UK Lamb, in store and via relevant media channels.
'Continued support'
NFU Cymru Livestock Chairman Wyn Evans said said the union will have regular meetings with retailers over the coming weeks to press them to confirm their commitments to sourcing Welsh.
Mr Evans said: “What is most important of all is the continued support of the public in ensuring that when they go to supermarkets, smaller retailers, butchers and restaurants they make a point of asking for great tasting PGI Welsh Lamb.
“Retailers say they are driven by their customers, well, in a recent survey 71% of those given a choice would opt for local produce.
“Producers have a key part to play in producing the right product at the right time but given the right signals, incentives and commitment this can be done. Good communication throughout the supply chain is key to achieving this.”
Mr Evans added: “A number of retailers over the past 12 months have made positive commitments towards Welsh lamb. We applaud this and hope this commitment can be built upon. We encourage more retailers to follow suit soon.”
One of NFU Cymru’s 10 key policy asks for the 2017 General Election is ‘Consumers consistently tell us that they want to buy Welsh and British produce. Clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling is required so that consumers can make informed choices.’
Meat promoters are already looking at an 'exceptionally busy month' of promoting premium British produce around the world in a major export push.
