THE MP for Lichfield has urged supermarkets to give a fair deal to British farmers.
Dave Robertson has joined 45 other Labour MPs in writing to the six major chains to highlight the disparity between the profits of retailers and producers.
The group said that farmers often receive as little as 1p profit on items while the supermarkets enjoy “excessive profits”.
Their letter said the current situation was creating an industry which was struggling and creating a reliance on subsidies.
“In a world where farmers and producers are struggling to make a living and relying on Government grants and subsidies so that they can survive from one year to the next, this can’t be seen as fair or right.”
The letter also takes aim at the practice of “farmwashing” where misleading labelling gives consumers the false impression that products are locally sourced when they are in fact imported or produced on huge industrial sites masquerading as family-run operations.
Mr Robertson said:
“British farmers produce some of the highest quality produce in the world.
“Farmers who work hard day in, day out should expect to see a fair return on the food they sell to supermarkets.
“This isn’t about more expensive food on supermarket shelves – it’s about ensuring that the farmers who grow and rear the food we eat get their fair share.
“It’s not right that massive supermarket companies earn mega profits while family farms are struggling to survive.”
