28/03/2011

French pork producers, aggrieved by low prices and loss of market share to imported meat, have blockaded supermarkets in the Loire region. The protesting farmers, led by the agricultural workers’ union FRSEA (Fédération Régionale des Syndicas d'Exploitants Agricoles), demanded a raise in farm-gate prices.

In all, over a hundred farmers blocked supermarkets for more than three hours; Jean-Paul Goutines, the FRSEA’s director, hailed the blockades as a success. Around fifty farmers also carried out ‘country of origin verification operations’ in Lidl and Leclerc supermarkets.

The Pays de la Loire is France’s second meat producing region, its producers say they want a more transparent approach to the origin of pork products, and demand preference be shown to French produce as they say they are struggling against rising production costs.

Pig farmers in Britain continuing the ‘pigs are still worth it’ campaign, aimed at securing better prices for UK producers, who the NPA (National Pig Association) claims are currently losing over £20 per pig, by displaying banners in prominent places to increase support for the nation’s pig farmers.

Those behind the campaign say they believe “supermarkets must engage seriously with the concept of a sustainable British pigmeat supply chain.” They say loss-making producers are currently subsidising huge supermarket profits, as it is the producers themselves who have to bear the true costs of 'cheap' meat.