First it was eggs...

First it was eggs, now it is apples. The owners of UK orchards are digging up acres of their trees simply because they are not being paid enough for their produce to make it economically viable for them to continue in the light of ever increasing costs. This comes at a time when weather conditions in Spain and North Africa have led to medium term shortages of certain fruit and veg like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers - a situation not helped by Brexit as many of these crops we used to source from other EU countries like Holland as well.

Why can't we support UK farmers more and expect to pay a fair price for own grown produce, eggs or dairy? Of course, given the current cost of living crisis, it is only right that efforts are made to keep the costs of basic food stuffs down but Coffey and the government are far from helping British farmers.

Whilst the size of the standard chocolate bar has gone down, the price on promoted lines has moved from £1 to £1.25 to £1.35. A 35% increase -and this is just on the best selling lines, others have gone up in price far more. But has it stopped people buying them? No, not really. People need to get their priorities straight. Don't moan about an increase in milk, eggs or apples when you are prepared to pay a greater percentage more for chocolate!

There has been increasing talk about being a more self-sufficient country in terms of food production. Logically, given our population size, this is never going to happen and also everyone is so used to being able to buy goods that are either out of season here or not grown here whenever they like from a supermarket, that I cannot see that demand changing. But surely the government -and supermarkets-need to do more to support British farmers?

I sell a lot of eggs on my market stall and trade has understandably almost doubled in recent weeks. I don't have a supply issue for two reasons:

1) the farm I use has managed to keep their hens alive and the flock has not been obliterated by bird flu.

2) I order my eggs, I go to the farm and collect my order. I then pay for that order with cash and at the price the girls at the farm want. No aggro, no questions, there is the money, thank you for the eggs and see you next week.

The farm also supply contract to an intermediary who supply supermarkets. The girls on the farm tell me they dread it every month as they are faced with haggling over price, being held to ransom near enough, and then having the pleasure of waiting 60 days NET, yes NET, to get their money.

I can therefore understand why many poultry farmers are baulking at replacing their flocks once they have reached "end of life".

In terms of supply and prices for the consumer there is hope on the horizon.
Once a flock is destroyed because of bird flu the sheds cannot be repopulated for 12 months. This time period for a lot of farmers is now approaching and millions of hens are on order and ready to be reintroduced into the market. Hopefully stabilising prices.

I went to Morrisons this morning to get a cooked chicken.
On our click and collect Weekly shop at @sda on Friday there's was no tomatoes or bell peppers.
I said to my wife I'll try and get some on Sunday with the chicken.
No tomatoes or peppers on display. Got to the till told the lady I was after tomatoes, she said we have gone them here on the till .
How many do you want, I wanted 12 that's what I have every week but to to fair I asked for 4 , she said they are 89p.
Didn't hear her right, so I paid 89p for each tomato .

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Originally Posted by BARBaggies82

I sell a lot of eggs on my market stall and trade has understandably almost doubled in recent weeks. I don't have a supply issue for two reasons:

1) the farm I use has managed to keep their hens alive and the flock has not been obliterated by bird flu.

2) I order my eggs, I go to the farm and collect my order. I then pay for that order with cash and at the price the girls at the farm want. No aggro, no questions, there is the money, thank you for the eggs and see you next week.

The farm also supply contract to an intermediary who supply supermarkets. The girls on the farm tell me they dread it every month as they are faced with haggling over price, being held to ransom near enough, and then having the pleasure of waiting 60 days NET, yes NET, to get their money.

I can therefore understand why many poultry farmers are baulking at replacing their flocks once they have reached "end of life".

In terms of supply and prices for the consumer there is hope on the horizon.
Once a flock is destroyed because of bird flu the sheds cannot be repopulated for 12 months. This time period for a lot of farmers is now approaching and millions of hens are on order and ready to be reintroduced into the market. Hopefully stabilising prices.

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Finding cash is king again! Never had so many discounts and better prices but on the basis of paying with cash. It’s obvious why!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by baggieal

Finding cash is king again! Never had so many discounts and better prices but on the basis of paying with cash. It’s obvious why!

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I didn't necessarily mean cash in pounds notes. I just meant I pay them their money there and then. Granted it is usually cash but I have on occasion paid by bank transfer but I will be whilst I'm on site and I won't leave until the funds are cleared. It's common f()ck1n decency

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BARBaggies82

I didn't necessarily mean cash in pounds notes. I just meant I pay them their money there and then. Granted it is usually cash but I have on occasion paid by bank transfer but I will be whilst I'm on site and I won't leave until the funds are cleared. It's common f()ck1n decency

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Totally 100% agree with you. Always pay my bills for trades/supplies immediately as it gives you favours. Pound notes now is king again with many for discounts/better pricing.