23 June 2011

Pork producers group Bpex has stepped up its ‘pigs are still worth it’ campaign with the release of a new recipe booklet to inspire consumers.

The new booklet, ‘Choose It and Use It,’ highlights the versatility of pork, bacon, ham and sausages and calls on shoppers to help pig farmers by buying products that carry quality labels such as Red Tractor.

Raymond Blanc, Phil Vickery, Brian Turner, Aldo Zilli and Jamie Oliver are all supporting the campaign, supplying their favourite pork recipes. The booklet also features stories from pig farmers, many of whom are facing substantial losses on their pigs.

Bpex said it produced the booklet to address the crisis faced by pig farmers, who have to contend with crippling feed costs caused by spiralling global wheat prices, which are set to stay high for the foreseeable future.  With most farmers currently loosing around £10 per pig, many face immense challenges over the coming months.  The current average cost of production is around £1.62/kg; the price received by farmers around £1.50/kg.

Stewart Houston, a pig farmer from North Yorkshire and Chair of BPEX elucidated on the current climate, “We suffered major losses due to high feed prices between 2007 and 2008. Although things improved for a while the problem has returned and the situation is even worse now.  So we are incredibly grateful to all the chefs who have backed our campaign by contributing their recipes and calling on shoppers to look for quality marks such as the Red Tractor on pack.” 

Jamie Oliver said, “Pig farmers still need your help, so when you’re deciding on the Sunday roast why not choose pork, and do please make sure you look for quality marks like the Red Tractor because that ensures high welfare standards.”