There has been growing interest in recent years in
how our food is produced and where it comes from. The growth of local
farm shops and the plethora of new businesses making everything from jams to
speciality drinks underlines the role that this revival of interest in food can
play in helping our local economy. The trend has been especially strong
here in Cornwall where we have developed a great brand for quality food and
speciality recipes.
We have so many fantastic companies locally that
are blazing a trail. Companies like Lynher Dairies have created new
markets with their highly acclaimed Cornish Yarg. Furniss Biscuits have started
to take their famous Cornish fairings to a national market. Rodda’s Cream
are creating new export markets, and Falfish have ensured that Cornwall is the
market leader for freshly caught local fish.
Last week, I met Cornwall Council to discuss their
new "Product of Cornwall" scheme. It seeks to build and extend
the long running "Made in Cornwall" scheme which recognises local
Cornish manufacturers. The new scheme is an origin assurance scheme, focused around
primary produce and minimally processed products. It will help to develop
a brand for local Cornish produce and meats in particular.
In recent years, there have been arguments about
supermarkets using made up farm names to try to suggest produce is British when
it sometimes is not. We have also seen similar disputes around the use of
the term “Cornish”. In 2015 there were complaints made about caterers using the
term “Cornish Beef” when the beef had not been reared in Cornwall. The Product
of Cornwall scheme means that beef will only be accredited as “Cornish” if the
animal was born, reared and slaughtered within Cornwall.
Schemes like this can help to develop a local brand
and strengthen consumer confidence in the food they eat. At Defra as Farming
and Food Minister I have been looking at other opportunities to recognise local
speciality foods that help celebrate and promote the diversity of food that we
have across the country. One of the things we are looking at is how we
might be able to use certification schemes and trade mark regulations to help
recognise such produce. The Product of Cornwall scheme is a good local
example of how such ideas can work.
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