Filed under: farming
Last week the Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) organisation published a survey which found 22% of 1,073 adults questioned did not know bacon and sausages originate from farms. Some 47% of people did not know farms produced porridge’s main ingredient. I was saddened when I heard these results, as they reflect a decline in the understanding of British farming and our own understanding of the origins of the food that we eat.
Which is why today’s Open Farm Sunday initiative organised by LEAF and supported by a range of organisations including the National Farmers Union (NFU), was so important as it provided the public with the opportunity to see and learn about the positive steps British farmers are taking to look after our countryside whilst producing safe and wholesome food.
So it was with great pleasure that I visited Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Farm today. Some of you may already recognise the name of the farm, as it is the home of the world famous Wilkin & Son jam which is made at the Tiptree jam factory. I like many other visitors today enjoyed a tour of the fruit farms as well as the delicious local fruits that were on offer today.
So thanks to LEAF’s involvement in raising public attention to the farming world, the next time people purchase fruit or vegetables from their supermarket, hopefully they will have a better understanding of the process and the efforts our farmers make to bring good quality produce to our tables, whilst protecting Britain’s beautiful countryside.
To find out more about Open Farm Sunday go to: http://www.farmsunday.org/farmsunday/
