Farmers Weekly food miles campaign petition reaches a climax

Farmers Weekly is making a big push this weekend to get as many people to register with its campaign Local Food is Miles Better and to sign the petition to supermarkets calling on them to stock, promote and label locally produced food in a way that cuts down on food miles and supports local producers.

So far nearly 3,200 people have registered their support.

On Monday lunchtime (3 Jul), Farmers Weekly will present the petition to representatives from the major retailers at the Royal Show, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. Conservative party leader David Cameron will be on hand to lend his support to the campaign.

Earlier in the day, DEFRA secretary David Miliband will present the winners of the Low Food Miles Lunchbox Competition – a campaign initiative aimed at 7-11-year-olds – with their prizes as part of his visit to Farming and Countryside Education’s stand.

Farmers Weekly will also be hosting two food miles campaign activities on its own stand at the Royal Show: A dinner plate food miles calculator activity for kids which has been kindly sponsored by Waitrose, and an opportunity to win a hamper of food for adults.

“Our activities at the Royal Show mark yet another key staging post for our campaign,” said campaign director, Julian Gairdner.

“It’s all about making the message visible to the consumer. Already we have reached over 18 million of them through broadcast coverage of the campaign and some 200 MPs, MSP and Welsh Assembly members have also backed the campaign.

“There’s a real momentum now, and the Royal Show is an excellent opportunity to showcase our successes and build on them for the benefit of British producers and the environment.”