From Crop to Cart: Fixing Supermarket Supply Chains
The price of supermarket apples has gone up 17% (yet the cost of growing them is far more, yet farmers see little extra payment). This also means more will be imported, bad for our endangered orchards, bad for farmers and bad for the planet.
67% of small farmers are too scared to speak out, in case they lose contracts.
Get Fair about Farming is a campaign began, after learning that 75% of fruit and veg farmers are scared they may fold within a year, citing supermarkets as the main cause. The founder has written an open letter to the big six supermarkets, asking supermarkets to:
- Pay on time (not up to 12 weeks, illegal in the rest of Europe)
- Not wiggle out of contracts.
- Pay what is agreed. One farmer grew 60 tonnes of salad potatoes, then was told they were no longer needed, leaving him ‘financially screwed’.
The campaign is asking for people to write to their MPs, to back the campaign for a new proposal in Parliament, which calls for a single, strong independent regulator, to ensure fairness across the entire food supply chain, from farmers to retailers.
At present, the regulatory system is split across two government departments, with little power to hold supermarkets to account.
The Fair Farming Charter
- Buy what you committed to buy.
- Pay on time.
- Commit for the long term.
- Agree on fair specifications
- Pay what you agreed to pay.
Fair farming survey results
A survey was conducted with Riverford anonymously, showing the results of horticultural farmers who have traded with supermarkets in the last 5 years:
99% had been forced to accept one of the follow conditions:
- Being offered lower prices due to unreasonable demands on colour, size or shape
- Late payments and cancelled orders
- No notice for changed terms
- Unfair pricing
Over half of those surveyed said they did not believe the government treated them as important enough, and expected their family farms to go out of business, within the next generation. With half saying they did not expect their farms to survive the next 2 years.
Top concerns of farmers at present were:
- Freak weather causing crop failures
- Risks in future government support
- Being dependent on supermarkets for income
- Supermarket behaviour (more than rising costs)
- Receiving cancelled orders from supermarkets
It’s interesting that this survey was done before the hash of the government’s budget, which led to a massive u-turn after farmers were descending on London in tractors to peacefully protest.
Crowdfarming (order organic food direct from farmers)
Crowdfarming is a a worldwide site that’s like an online version of community supported agriculture, to keep farms secure. Instead of selling at a pittance to supermarkets, users can ‘adopt a fruit tree, then receive your ‘money back’ when the fruit is harvested.
Or alternative, buy seasonal boxes from farmers, delivered direct to cut out middlemen, so farmers keep the profits. This also helps to avoid food waste, as you likely (unlike supermarkets) don’t care if your carrots are curly, if you’re using them to make soup!
Financial help for small organic farmers
Many small farmers tend their crops and look after their animals well. But often have to either sell at a pittance to big supermarkets, or suffer from rising costs, high tenancy rents and/or natural disasters like floods, and end up living on the breadline, some even suicidal.
Also read tips on running a tiny profitable organic farm.
The good news is that there are wonderful small charities that can help:
- Forage Aid helps with free feed and bedding, if your farm has suffered due to weather or an ‘act of God’. Farmers receive silage, hay and straw.
- Addington Fund offers emergency accommodation relocation help, if someone has lost their farm or home, due to finance or ill health.
- The Farming Community Network has volunteers (many with farming backgrounds) to listen to those struggling with practical or emotional problems. It also runs Farmwell (grants and funding).
- RABI offers financial support and counselling to farming families who need help with paying bills, and can find grants and therapy sessions.
- The Royal Countryside Fund invests in projects for rural communities, with grants to upskill and support young farmers, and boost local markets.
- Hen Helpline is run by a charity that rescues chickens (and roosters) designed to be killed, after end of egg-laying life. The free helpline helps with anything chicken!
