AS BRITONS gear up for a summer of celebration Staffordshire shoppers are backing the best of British food too.
More than two thirds of Staffordshire people who responded to an NFU campaign survey think the country should be more self-sufficient.
And more than three quarters think supermarkets should sell more UK produce and seven out of ten always or sometimes look for British food when shopping The NFU launched its Farming Delivers campaign last week at Westminster.
It aims to show the public how farming delivers for food, the economy, animal welfare, the environment, careers and cleaner energy.
Stafford dairy farmer Mike Madders, said: “We’re making a real contribution, feeding the county and adding weight to Staffordshire’s economic and environmental wellbeing.
“Despite huge hikes in the cost of production, downward pressure on the prices paid for our produce and red-tape we are supporting the food and drink industry which has become the UK’s fourth largest exporting sector.
“I think it’s great that we are producing the raw ingredients and adding weight to this economic success story.” Around 80 per cent of people surveyed from Staffordshire and the West Midlands said they thought that delivering food security was a top priority.
John Mercer, NFU regional director, said: “Staffordshire farmers remain defiant, despite soaring production costs, and while the industry is not recession-proof our members are still producing, still exporting and contributing a significant amount to help the country weather the economic downturn.
“County farms deliver around £800 to the economy for every hectare of land in production and across the region that is worth more than £744 million.”
