Farmer tweets thank-you to consumers for support over meat scandal (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Farmer tweets thank-you to consumers for support over meat scandal

1:02pm Friday 22nd February 2013 in Farming

A YORKSHIRE farmer’s Valentine’s Day message to the British public went out via Twitter to more than 55,000 people in just seven hours.

The message of thanks for their support during the horse meat scandal – with people actively seeking out fresh home-produced meat – came about after York farmer Rosey Dunn was touched by reports from local butchers of surging demand from the public.

“Farmers are rightly proud of what they produce, working hard to deliver great taste and great provenance with farm-to-plate traceability, but it is very gratifying when that sentiment is reciprocated by your customers,” said Mrs Dunn, who farms at Stockton on Forest, near York.

“The farming community has been shocked at the wave of revelations about the presence of horse meat in a range of processed meat products and has felt very let down by what looks like a criminal element in isolated parts of the food chain.

“To see the public responding so positively to our home-grown food was a real boost and I just wanted to say thank-you.”

The 50-second video, which is on the NFU website, was released on the eve of a high-profile ‘Buy British’ campaign launched by the NFU with support from other organisations.

Ten national newspapers carried prominent adverts highlighting the role of British farmers in delivering high standards for fresh British food.

Mrs Dunn added: “Supermarkets also have an important role to play and we are urging them to throw their weight behind independent assurance schemes like the Red Tractor, which will help to reassure consumers and farmers alike.”

Peter Kendall, NFU president, said anecdotal evidence from Eblex suggested that demand for assured quality beef remains robust and that consumers are increasingly looking for assurance marks when they are buying food.

“The NFU is telling the public that they can buy British in confidence.

Look for the Red Tractor logo, as products bearing it have been independently inspected to accredited standards, and are traceable from farm to pack.”