Crunch time for bacon sarnie
Fans of the humble bacon sandwich will soon have to fork out more for their pork as foot and mouth, flooding and a hike in world grain prices have pushed costs through the roof. Fans of the humble bacon sandwich will soon have to fork out more for their pork as foot and mouth, flooding and a hike in world grain prices have pushed costs through the roof. The mouth-watering sarnie, along with all pork products, could rise in price by 20 per cent in the coming months. Martin Rowley, who rears 500 free-range pigs at Buttercross Farm near Market Drayton, said food prices have been artificially depressed for 20 years and producers were only beginning to see a true return for their products. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Martin Rowley, who rears 500 free-range pigs at Buttercross Farm near Market Drayton, said food prices have been artificially depressed for 20 years and producers were only beginning to see a true return for their products.
He said global triggers were the ones to watch.
"It is important not to confuse the cost of foot and mouth with the general rise in agricultural commodities," he said.
"On the whole there is a global shortage of cereals. Wherever you have meat or bread or eggs they are all derived from cereal usage.
"China is consuming more cereals than ever, and when you add that to poor harvests in America and Australia it is no wonder prices are going up."
Martin said shoppers would notice an increase in prices across the board but these were real value instead of artificially depressed ones.
He explained: "Do not forget that for a long time farmers have received well below the real value of their goods.
"Pressure from buyers and the supermarkets has forced down the price and the last person to get a share is the primary producer - the farmer."
He added: "You only have to drive round this county to see farms are not as tidy as they used to be. They don't employ as much labour as they did and in the last 20 years they have begun to go downhill.
"If you want to maintain quality production the food price will have to increase. Hopefully shoppers will subscribe to the fact that British products have higher quality, higher traceability and higher provenance."
Supplying to supermarkets, restaurants and shops all over the country, Buttercross has built up an enviable reputation for its pork.
Yet rises in production costs are having a huge effect on the industry.
"Twenty years ago the value of an ex-farm pig was more than it is now," Martin said.
"Back in 1980 there were a million breeding sows in the UK. Now there are fewer than 400,000. The industry has shrunk back as a result of not being able to operate economically.
"So many farmers have gone out of business but when we arrive at this food shortage, which will happen sooner rather than later, we will have no option but to buy animals from abroad."
By Rural Affairs Correspondent Nathan Rous
