Supermarkets could be lobbied by WI members (From Gazette & Herald)

Supermarkets could be lobbied by WI members

MEMBERS of the Women's Institute could soon lobby supermarkets demanding levies to support the reintroduction of local abattoirs.

Nearly 100pc of members at a national conference voted in favour of encouraging locally-produced and slaughtered meat.

The resolution had been strongly supported by Janet Wright, chairman of public affairs for North Yorkshire East Federation of WIs, and throughout Ryedale.

"We want to try and put pressure on supermarkets to get them to contribute or pay a levy to help support the local abattoir," said Janet Wright. "At the moment this is still a thought and we need to plan it and get it right. We need to make sure we campaign in the right areas."

Mrs Wright said studies had shown that when one small abattoir in East Anglia has been lost through closure, £35M had been wiped from the local economy and 22 local businesses were lost.

Ryedale is lucky in that it still has local butchers, some of whom are licensed to slaughter their own meat.

Malton auctioneer Philip Place said people in the north were lucky. There were still some small abattoirs. To survive they had had to invest heavily to comply with the current meat hygiene standards.

There were very few places which catered for medium volumes.

Local meat, slaughtered locally meant the product could be offered to customers in prime condition, he said. Livestock stressed through travelling could not be at its best and could result in tough meat.

Mr Place explained that in Ryedale, to ensure that the product was at its best, stock was rested for 24 hours before slaughter.

"Unless the individual or housewife has visited their local butcher they will not have had the opportunity to realise the difference between local produced and the processed product off the supermarket shelf.

"Now the auction markets are back in operation, the local butchers are able to widen their selection and purchase the ideal product."

Rillington butcher Frank Turner said people could be sure of locally-produced meat. They would know where it came from, down to the field and the name of the animal.

Pickering WI president Judy Taylor said her group was 100pc behind the national resolution. "We don't like animals being transported about, particularly with foot and mouth.

"I don't buy meat from supermarkets when I know I can get Yorkshire meat from my butcher. I like to know where my milk and vegetables come from too."

Janet Wright of the North Yorkshire and East Federation of WIs added that not only could members canvass supermarkets in person, they could lobby parliament too. "Our members can be pretty good at writing to MPs and Government," she said.

Updated: 09:41 Thursday, June 20, 2002