Industry promises to keep the shelves stocked
Scotland’s farmers and crofters will strive to ensure Scottish shelves remain stocked and that plates and glasses remain full of fresh food and drink – that was the pledge given yesterday.
Thanking the Scottish public for their continued support, NFU Scotland president, Andrew Mccornick gave an undertaking that the union’s members would play a full part in the nation’s response to the health and economic shockwaves caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“These are unprecedented times and the sight of empty shelves in some stores, both large and small, clearly illustrates the uncertainty and worry that many in our society are facing.”
Stating that the sector wanted to see shelves stacked, Mccornick said that producers and the wider food and drink sector across Scotland would strive to deliver on food security and work tirelessly to maintain all necessary supply chains to keep them full.
Discussions with Scottish Government and other key stakeholders were, he said, already drilling down on what he termed “key areas”.
These included the ability to get crucial supplies like animal feed, fuel, fertiliser and seed onto farms; the need for livestock, milk, eggs, cereals, veg to get to market; keeping livestock markets, abattoirs and food manufacturing sites open and working; getting goods processed and delivered onto a shelf, whether it be a farm shop, a local store or a supermarket.
Echoing a call made earlier in the week by the soft fruit co-operative, British Summer Fruits the body which covers over 95 per cent of berry sales to supermarkets he offered a solution to the upcoming difficulties about to be faced by the fruit and veg sector in the wake of both Brexit and the coronavirus outbreak:
“Huge problems around labour are looming large, particularly for our soft fruit and veg growers with novel ways of seeking staff for farms being considered,” said Mccornick.
“Those who have lost their jobs or are on unpaid leave in the hospitality sector are being sought to allow planting and harvesting to be undertaken.”
And he said that novel solutions and new approaches would be required to keep primary production on track:
“In times of crisis, Scottish farmers and crofters have always proved themselves to be innovative, adaptable and resilient. This time is no different.”
*While farming and food organisations on the European mainland yesterday gave a similar promise, there were reports of increasing difficulties to the flow of trade:
“Delays and disruption at country borders have been observed for the delivery of certain agricultural and manufacturedproducts,as well as packaging materials,” sources claimed.
There was also concern over the movement of workers, notably due to certain border closures and travel restrictions, as well as potential labour shortages as staff follow national movement restrictions to mitigate the crisis.
The umbrella farming and co-operative group Copa/cogeca said that in order to maintain the highly integrated cross border trade for food, it was crucial that the EU Single Market was maintained and was allowed to operate without restrictions or impediments.