FIVE hundred West Devon farmers could get the chance to sell more meat and dairy products to major retailers through a new co-operative marketing scheme.
It is intended to bring them into closer contact with buyers such as Marks and Spencer and to ensure that they produce what the market wants. M&S has been actively promoting the creation of a closer partnership with its suppliers.
The scheme has been launched by Mole Valley Farmers, a group based in North Devon which includes 10,000 farmers countrywide and a large number in Devon, the largest livestock-producing county.
Through the venture members of the group will be put in touch with the Chitty Food Group, one of the leading abattoir organisations, based in Hampshire. This, it is hoped, will help them to predict the demand and specification for beef and dairy products more accurately.
'The farmers' voice has not been heard,' said Rozz Algar, marketing manager for Mole Valley Farmers. 'The retailers and caterers talk to the consumers and to the abattoirs, but farmers have not been a part of the conversation about the market.'
Chitty Group has said it is keen to have more dialogue with farmers to ensure that they are sending the right livestock to be slaughtered.
Mole Valley Farmers' vice-chairman Brian Jennings, the first farmer to sign up to the scheme, said it would be good for farmers everywhere, at a time when British farming was experiencing such severe hardship.
A meeting of local members of the Mole Valley group is being held in Launceston on December 12 to discuss the scheme.