Red tractor boost for West midlands dairy producers

The Red Tractor scheme has reached a significant milestone with the announcement that the retail value of food carrying the logo has passed the £5 billion work.

The announcement coincided with a presentation to the NFU West Midlands regional dairy board which unveiled a newly updated logo incorporating a country of origin flag.

The region's leading dairy producers were told by Bev Wilson, of Assured Food Standards - the body that administers the logo - that all produce that carried the logo had to be "produced, processed and packed in the UK."

It was also emphasised that the standard is owned by the whole of the UK food industry and that the industry has a duty to promote it to the consumer and the food service industry.

Mrs Wilson told the dairy board that the Red Tractor is about food production standards not policing environmental enhancement.

NFU West Midlands regional dairy board chairman Alan Warrington welcomed the presentation and the news that the second quarter of the year had seen a 14 per cent increase in the number of assured products displaying the logo.

"I am particularly pleased to learn that the largest sectoral increase of products displaying the logo was the dairy sector, with a 17 per cent increase," said Mr Warrington.

"Many own-label cheese products now carry the new flagged mark and, with the recent addition of Country Life Butter from Dairy Crest, this is a trend likely to continue as other well-known brands follow.

"Members of the West Midlands dairy board were very encouraged by the presentation from Mrs Wilson and will be promoting the values of the Red Tractor logo with a renewed vigour as a result.

"Product displaying the Red Tractor represents an alliance across the whole food industry and is independent, is verified by an independent inspectorate, covers every link in the food chain and is traceable right back to the farm of origin."