Over 100 Members of Parliament have signed an open letter
(attached) calling on supermarkets to highlight the very best of
British produce by incorporating a ‘Buy British’ section online.
MP comments:
:
“I’m pleased to support this important initiative. Farmers work
tirelessly, from dawn until dusk, to produce food for our nation
and the ‘Buy British’ section is an easy and accessible way for
customers to support them.
“We know that people want to know more about where their food
comes from and how it’s produced. This simple change on a webpage
helps to ensure homegrown food is easily identifiable, something
I wholeheartedly support.”
The letter, supported by 110 parliamentarians and penned by
Bosworth MP , states; ‘Our ask is simple, create a tab that
collates produce from farmers,’ citing consumer choice,
environmental benefits and support for farmers as reasons to make
the change.
The ‘Buy British’ tab would collate produce from across the UK so
customers have “greater power in their choices”, enabling them to
support the nation’s farmers ‘quickly and easily’.
The MPs say the change could be achieved ‘by the click of a
mouse’, with many shops already labelling British products,
therefore the online change is simply bringing the produce to the
fore in a ‘one-stop online shop’ for the public to better
identify homegrown produce.
In a recent survey carried out by the National Farmers’ Union
(NFU), 61 per cent of respondent farmers stated the supply chain
and market volatility have negative impacts on their mental
health, with 80 per cent of dairy farmers in a second NFU survey
citing cash flow and profitability as key factors which throw the
future of their business into doubt.
Farmers face an expensive harvest as domestic weather records –
the driest February in 30 years, hottest June ever recorded and a
notably wet July – as well as high import costs for energy, fuel
and fertiliser threaten positive yields and profits.
The open letter champions the work of Britain’s farmers in
ensuring food security, supporting strong local economies and
preserving and protecting the environment, while empowering the
public to be able to make easy choices in how they shop for their
food.
Dr :
“The ‘Buy British’ section is a small and clear change which
shows support for our farmers while allowing consumers to make an
easy, informed choice.
“Farmers say the best way to support them is simple: buy British
produce. Supermarkets are keen to support our food producers and
we know the public want to play their part, but this easy
signposting doesn’t currently exist for millions of people who do
their food shop online.
“Buying British is good for local food producers, good for the
environment and good for consumer choice. It’s a win all round.”
The President of the National Farmers’ Union, Minette Batters,
added;
“We have been asking retailers to commit to signposting British
produce for a number of years, so it’s great to see MPs and their
constituents getting behind the idea of a ‘Buy British tab’
online.
“We know from our own independent survey that 86 per cent of the
public want to buy more British food, but it is often tricky to
determine what products are produced in the UK and this simple
change would help the shoppers do that.”
