Buy food with quality mark, Shropshire shoppers told
Poultry?and egg farmers from across Shropshire have urged shoppers to look out for the Red Tractor and Lion Egg markings in supermarkets, or buy from local producers and butchers, to ensure their food is of the highest quality.
With the current furore over horsemeat being found in burgers and other meat products, farmers yesterday stressed the importance of shoppers ensuring they were buying quality British produce.
The issue was discussed at a National Farmers' Union Conference held at Park Hall near Oswestry.
David Kynaston, who has chicken farms in Shropshire and near Welshpool, said his meat carried the Red Tractor mark, which assured shoppers that it met food standards.
"It is something that does not come cheap as we have to fund all the inspections and all the administration that comes with the awarding of the mark," he said.
"But it means that everything is traceable. I know where each individual chick and the feed comes from and even the driver that takes them away."
"We as farmers have fought hard for the recognition of the Tractor and Lion Mark on eggs.
"They are symbols that shoppers have come to recognise and understand, yet at least one supermarket now wants to remove the Red Tractor from its shelves."
Elwyn Griffiths, an egg producer at Oaklands Eggs, Wem, said traceability on his farms was equally as important.
And he revealed that there were unscrupulous traders operating in the egg business.
"I received an e-mail from a European trader yesterday offering me a wagon load of white eggs from Romania which, of course, I ignored.
"But I am sure that there are people that will take up those kind of offers."
"There has been a disconnect recently between the housewife and the food they buy and until now I am not sure they really cared where their food came from.
"Perhaps now they will look at where the food has come from and realise that if something is too cheap there must be a reason."
The session also allowed farmers and others in the poultry sector to hear the latest news about egg production, broiler chickens and other topics.
Farmers heard also a speech from Leon Furlong, of Agro Supply, about poultry shed innovation and Ian Johnson, Poultry Farmer of the Year finalist, on better working methods.
Catherine McLaughlin, NFU animal health and welfare adviser, and Kelly Watson, NFU chief poultry adviser, also updated producers on egg and broiler issues and poultry disease.
Featured local business - A.R. Richards Ltd. in Shropshire
