South Shropshire councillor calls for supermarket milk boycot
A Shropshire Councillor has called on residents to boycott milk from supermarkets who fail to pay the County's dairy farmers a decent return.
Charlotte Barnes, Councillor for Bishops Castle, said: "The recent delays in payments have had a major impact on many of our milk producers. However, the long term problem has been the supermarket's strangle-hold on prices. This is what has pushed our dairy industry into long term decline. Its clear from the research that prices paid vary widely with some paying particularly low sums to farmers.
"In this age of consumer power we can take direct action and buy instead from local Shops or at least supermarkets such M&S who pay a decent amount. I'm therefore urging the public in Shropshire to stop buying milk from the worst payers: Asda, Morrisons, Iceland, Lidl and Aldi. Supermarkets are very sensitive to popular pressure - lets make them sit up and take notice!"
Charlotte added "The Fairtrade Foundation currently works to support farmers in the developing world to ensure that producers in those countries get a fair price for their products, but there is clearly a need to do exactly the same ‘at home’ in the UK."
The Foundation issues Fairtrade Marks which can be displayed on products which indicate they have been certified by the Foundation where the producers get a fair deal. The Fairtrade Mark does not currently apply to UK farmers but Charlotte is keen that a version of it should. She has written to the Fairtrade Foundation about this.
Charlotte said: “As a country, we should concentrate on food security and be able to feed ourselves. I really believe a Fairtrade milk scheme would be an effective way to ensure that the farmers are protected.
"The consumer would know at a glance that he or she is supporting British farming when shopping for milk or milk products.”
