With Fairtrade fortnight this month we thought the time was ripe to explore our supply chain from field to fork.>
Buying choices
While we try to fill our boxes with as much of our own produce as possible there is only so much we are able to grow on eight acres. To help fill the gaps we work with a network of experienced, resourceful and innovative local growers.We make decisions about the products we sell based on where and how they are produced and what is in season. This means that we don’t automatically buy the cheapest, choosing instead to use suppliers that share our vision, aims and ethics.
Brexit
With Brexit over the horizon there is a huge amount of uncertainty faced by UK farmers, many of whom are already feeling the impact of the supermarket price wars on their livelihoods.In these uncertain times we will, of course, continually support local farmers; challenging the supermarket pressure that drives profits for growers into the ground.
Working together
We hold an annual meeting with the local farmers who supply us. Together we are able to build crop plans that work in harmony with each other. Helping to sustain the farmers we work with is one of our core ethics so we always aim to pay above the market price for the amazing produce they grow.Our commitment to paying a fair price to the farmer helps to ensure that we have incredible produce available to us throughout the year.
Fairtrade for UK farmers?
As falling prices and rising debt reach crisis levels for farmers across the country one begs the question, should Fairtrade cover UK farmers?This is by no means a new issue. The question came to the forefront of our minds last year when milk-prices hit breaking point and farmers (with dairy cows in tow) flocked to protest in the aisles of Tesco. In 2012 too there were a calls for Fairtrade to cover UK farmers. Dr Sentamu, Archbishop of York, then lamented the “derisory” amount farmers received for their produce stating he would “love to see a Fairtrade mark for British goods”.
Unfortunately it may not be quite that simple. The Fairtrade Foundation have insisted that, while they support the concept, they are not the right people for the job, saying: “Whilst UK farmers are able to take their protest to the doors of supermarkets or lobby their MPs the farmers we represent have not got this access. They must rely on Fairtrade to lobby on their behalf.”
Sadly there are no easy answers. So in the meantime let us follow Fairtrade’s example and keep voting with our wallets for the sake of all farmers both overseas and at home. Each of us can be a conscious consumer by choosing to fund the products and the businesses which best represent the values we want to see become the norm in our food system.
