The Farmers’ Union of Wales has raised concerns about the procurement policies for school meals at primary schools on Anglesey with the local council. Union officials were concerned that the menu offered to children did not incorporate enough local and Welsh produce.
FUW Anglesey County Executive Alaw Jones said: “We were encouraged by the meeting we had with the County Council and welcome the fact that they hope to work with local farmers to explore opportunities to supply meat and dairy produce for school meals on the island.”
The council, which has recently signed a multi million pound contract to supply 9,500 school meals every day with catering giant Chartwells said that though they were limited in their influence over food suppliers, they would be happy to help the FUW raise awareness of high quality Welsh food producers within the catering company.
“We understand that councils are occasionally hamstrung by regulations meaning they can’t impose conditions on these contracts. However, it goes without saying that they should make every effort to source the food for our children locally and from within Wales. We are looking forward to assisting the council in finding local and Welsh suppliers.
“Wales has some excellent food producers and our food is sustainable and nutritious. Our animals are reared to world class health and welfare standards and the diet of our children should not be compromised by mediocre food products, when we have excellence on our doorstep,” added Alaw Jones.