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Wasted Cauliflowers another example of the need for change in the UK food industry

Thousands of cauliflowers were thrown away this week because there is a UK glut caused by supermarkets taking Spanish Caulis instead.  This is a classic example of our mad food industry and perhaps brexit, and BigBarn giving us a great chance to make changes.

First the mad food industry: The Sunday Times reported how a farmer in Kent was ploughing in 40 acres of Cauliflowers because the supermarkets would not take them for a fair price. It seems they had organised to honour their Spanish contracts.

This is what happens when supermarkets decide they should have 96% availability of all products at all times.  This means they waste a lot and have to plan ahead by signing contracts with UK and Spanish growers.  The more contracts the more security of supply, AND, perhaps, opportunity to fine growers who do not fulfil their contracts. (another story for another time perhaps!)

The Kent grower did not have a contract as he could not commit to a certain volume of caulis on a certain day, consequently when his crop was ready he had to take the ‘market’ price.

When we had markets all over the UK, the price was set by supply and demand. Grocery shops would buy what was cheap and pass on the saving to consumers, who in turn would realise the cheap price and eat more cauliflower. The increased consumption would steady the price and the farmer would make money.

Now we have the supermarkets, global free trade and nearly every food available all year round. We consumers don’t benefit from a glut, or in most cases, even realise what products are good value for money. Farmers however can be ruined by a glut and most can’t survive on the average of only get 9p in every £1 we spend on food.

Bargain, or rip off

This is the effect of the supermarkets and consumers being disconnected from where their food comes from.  Most people do not know that there is a glut of cauliflowers, can buy the cheap ones, or know what to make with them if they did buy a box full.

This is why BigBarn exists, to reconnect producers with consumers and encourage trade and communication.

So that farmers can set up shops, sell through local farm shops or other independent shops.  Farmers can get a higher percentage of the retail price and if there is a glut promote the cheaper product and offer recipe cards to increase consumption.

Consumers may not get every product all year round, but instead realise what is available throughout the year and celebrate seasonal, fresh, heathy, cheaper produce as it ripens.

Simply type in your post code to find your local food

We should all end up better off.

So as we move towards Brexit the government should move away from supporting the current food industry and supermarket dominance and towards supporting the independent sector and farmers growing food for local markets.

We consumers should use the bigbarn map to find and buy from our local shops. Let’s discover real seasonal food and through chatting to the farmer encourage greater production of varieties of food that taste good rather than give high yield and long shelf life.

And if you do get a box of veg very cheap use our recipe section or Keep it Simple recipe video section to make the best of your crop. Or please make and add your own video.

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