FUW URGES ASSEMBLY TO COPY ITS ‘BUY THE WELSH ONE’ CAMPAIGN

The Welsh Assembly Government was urged by Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today to adopt a policy urging supermarkets to stock more Welsh produce and encouraging shoppers to buy local.

Speaking at the union's annual farmhouse Breakfast at the Assembly, Mr Vaughan welcomed rural affairs minister Elin Jones' decision to use the event to highlight the importance of buying local food.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to remind her that the FUW launched its 'Buy The Welsh One' campaign at the 2007 Royal Welsh Show after Defra released figures revealing a dramatic drop in self-sufficiency in UK food and drink products over the previous 10 years.

"Nowadays increasing numbers of FUW members and supporters are producing food and drink products and adding value to their own food. There is a growing number of farm-produced quality products now available at farmers' markets, corner shops and on the internet.

"But, sadly, the consumer has to search for such products in most supermarkets even though there is an increasing awareness amongst these huge retailers that they are morally bound to offer local products.

"The FUW welcomed the Assembly's support when Wales was declared the world's first Fair Trade Nation last June. The achievement followed a two-year campaign by the Wales Fair Trade Forum, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

"Its aim is to increase the availability of Fair Trade products in towns, cities and counties across Wales, and to encourage schools, businesses and other organisations to switch to Fair Trade."

Mr Vaughan told those present at the breakfast that last December the FUW and the Wales Fair Trade Forum (WFTF) teamed up at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair to promote fair prices for food producers in Wales and throughout the developing world.

"We should all be proud that Wales is the first Fair Trade Nation but that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what needs to be done to ensure all producers are paid a fair price for their goods, allowing them to operate sustainably, regardless of where in the world they farm."

Mr Vaughan added that the FUW and WFTF support the key message: "If you can't buy local produce, buy Fair Trade produce".

"This is an important message for farming families and the wider general public. We should all think before we buy.

"A farmer who wants a fair price for his lambs in the market should also want a fair price for coffee farmers in other countries. The two principles should go hand in hand.

"So I urge the Minister today to follow the FUW's example. The Welsh Assembly Government beat us to the punch in their support of Fair Trade products but now I challenge them to catch us up and give more encouragement to the public sector to Buy The Welsh One."