British egg producers have invested £400m on phasing out barren battery cages

The South West Green Party has called for the ConDem government to support British egg farmers and stop condoning the importation of illegal battery cage eggs into the UK

British egg producers have invested £400m on phasing out barren battery cages to meet the requirements of EU legislation which came into force on January 1, 2012.

However, 13 other EU member states have failed to get some 50m hen houses in order.

Yet the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has said it does not plan to check imported egg products or products containing eggs. Instead the UK will be relying on a voluntary food industry ban to keep illegally produced eggs out of the country.

Emma Pruen, who sits on the National Executive of the Green Party and lives on a farm in Somerset, said: “It’s outrageous that the EU ban on the sale of eggs from barren battery cages isn’t being enforced, and that the UK Government has chosen to turn a blind eye to processed egg imports from non-compliant countries.

“There is already a legal requirement for proper supporting documentation of all egg and egg related products entering the UK, they just need to ask to see it. We also have a standard traceability procedure operating here and across Europe, so it is there is no reason whatsoever for the Government not to do the decent thing.”

The British Egg Industry Council says: “We’re asking the government to conduct proper checks of imported eggs, egg products and products containing eggs entering UK ports, egg packing stations, processing plants, importers and wholesalers. Otherwise, UK consumers could be eating eggs from illegal battery hens and British egg producers will be seriously undermined, with the possible loss of thousands of jobs.”

The Green Party would like to see the egg industry switch to entirely free-range systems, but welcomes introduction of the new ‘enriched’ cages as an improvement on barren battery cages.  The majority of British people think shops should stop selling cage eggs, or products containing them, even if it meant prices may go up, found the RSPCA in recent research.

Although as a nation we have all been buying more cage-free eggs, the majority of eggs we eat are hidden in foods such as cakes, quiche and mayonnaise, which do not have to be labelled.

(from a press release)

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Prunes? Do they live up to their reputation? The European Food Safety Authority thinks not

Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar Sir Graham Watson has raised the issue of prunes and their laxative qualities in the Strasbourg chamber of the European Parliament.

Graham’s comments have arisen from the refusal of the European Food Safety Agency to recognise the high-fibre quality of fruits such as berries, pomegranates and the infamous prune.

Graham said: “The European Food Safety Authority is investigating health claims on food products and this is very important for citizens.

“The European Commission’s advisory panel which does this work has rejected 95% of claims for plant-based foods, maybe in many cases with good reason, but among the claims rejected is the claim that prunes have a laxative effect. According to the panel there is no cause and effect between eating prunes and normal bowel function.

“I have asked the Commission if it is satisfied with the criteria and the methodology used for testing such claims because I know that prunes contain two substances sorbitol and dihydrophenylisatin, which have laxative effects. But most of our constituents do not require a scientific test.

“I have also invited the Commissioner responsible for health and consumer policy, John Dalli, to a prune eating contest to see for himself!

“Consumer advice and food labelling is an important aspect of the single market. Having one set of clear guidelines on nutritional advice across 27 countries improves efficiency, saves taxpayer’s money and brings an even playing field to food manufacturers.”

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Clandestine Cake Club: Devon cake club has been set up

Food blogger, Grazing Kate, is trying to get a Clandestine Cake Club off the ground.

It’s a chance for baking friends to get together, bringing along a themed cake that they have lovingly prepared.  Everyone gets to try everyone else’s cake and bring pieces home too.  It’s just a bit of fun to allow like-minded people to share their love of baking.

Would anyone like to join in meeting up once in a while to eat each others homemade cake, discuss foodie stuff etc?

Kate said:  ”I’m a Devon food blogger and big fan of our local produce so expect seasonal cakes with lots of local ingredients from me.

“Ideas for a cake-friendly venues welcome, otherwise I shall search out a friendly pub landlord or cafe owner! I’d prefer Exeter or Newton Abbot area but willing to vary the venue as Devon folk have wide open patches of field between them!”

For more info at the Clandestine Cake Club Devon page.

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Occombe Farm Veg Box: the new veg box scheme at Occombe Farm aims to create a direct link between the grower and the consumer

Occombe Farm, the organic farm that’s part of the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, is offering up its own new fresh fruit and veg box scheme, and (as of writing) there are a few places left.

But best be quick, according the blurb, just 25 families in the vicinity of the Torbay farm will be able to join the scheme.

The boxes are just £10 a week, and the project will run for 40 weeks from mid-June 2011 to mid-March 2012.

Picked up from the farm of a Friday, the box will contain a variety of produce, depending on what is in season – this week it was beetroot, new potatoes, broad beans, peas, salad, onions, carrots, herbs, spring onions, radish, spinach, chard, cucumbers and courgette

Those who sign up for the box with become members of Occombe’s Community Support Agriculture scheme, which has a whole host of benefits along with the veggie box – owing and harvesting at regular work-days. You will also be invited to special events such as barbecues and get to listen to guest speakers.

The aim is to create a direct link between the grower and the consumer – members will know exactly where the produce is coming from and they are buying a share in the grub rather than a fixed amount.

Once the scheme is full for 2011, you can join the waiting list. They are also keen to help other growing projects get started locally. If you are interested then get in touch.

Pop along to Occombe’s Facebook page or their website to download forms and find our more

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Oranges and clementines Spanish orange grower Humberto in his orange grove with family. You can sidestep chains and buy your fruit directly with the grower

I was interested to see the following pop up in my inbox the other day. “I’m a farmer from Spain (Valencian Community) & I send the Oranges & Clementines directly from my oranges groves to your home.”

On a grey autumn day the word ‘Mediterraneo’ sounded warm and inviting, clementines directly from orange groves sounded delicious, so I looked on the Naranjas del Mediterráneo website and duly ordered 10kg of clementines for 39 euros (inc postage).

I guess it’s not exactly the bargain of the century, but perhaps it is a fair price when one considers that these farmers are forced to sell to distributors and supermarket chains at below production cost, and the final cost to the consumer is 500 per cent more than that paid to the farmer.

I do not know what my clementines will be like, as Humberto doesn’t start picking them until November 8, but it was a good feeling to have, in this very small way, bridged the massive gap between grower and consumer.

• Check out the Naranjas del Mediterráneo website

(image: Humberto in his orange grove with his family)

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How often have your fretted that Danish bacon has been labelled as UK produce? (Hey, it has happened!) Well, worry no more, the European Parliament has voted on stricter rules on food packaging labels, including a ‘country of provenance’ indication for meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables and single ingredient products.

And there’d be more detailed nutritional information.

South West MEP Graham Watson reckons the clearer labelling will empower the consumer and benefit producers in the South West.

After voting on the issue, Graham told the PRSD: “These new labels will allow people to make an informed choice about the food they buy.

“Whether you are concerned about quality, ethics, or food miles, the right to know and the right to choose should be yours.

“The South West is home to some top quality foodstuffs, and it is only right that consumers are able to pick this out.”

MEPs did however drop the controversial ‘traffic light labelling’ in favour of more detailed nutritional information.

Graham told the PRSD: “With obesity and public health becoming a major problem, it is right that we MEPs debate the best way to provide consumers with all the information they need to make healthy choices.

“The traffic light system was rejected, but this legislation has a long way to go and more amendments are inevitable.”

The next stage for the Food Information to Consumers report is for it to go to the Council of Ministers for their approval.

(image: part of an ad for Danish bacon, taken by Kasper Weibel used under Creative Commons)

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What is land for? Why, maximising the storage of carbon in our soils and the management of water, of course – which could be as important as food production in the future, according to Professor Michael Winter of Exeter University, editor of What is Land for? The Food, Fuel and Climate Change Debate, published today (Thursday, November 19).

Edited by Prof Winter and Dr Matt Lobley of Exeter University, it includes contributions from more than 50 leading academics, including key researchers from the UK research councils’ Rural Economy and Land Use Programme.

Prof Winter  told the PRSD: “In an era of climate change, carbon sequestration becomes more and more of an issue, and we are beginning to understand better the role of soils in this process, so the actions of farmers and land managers are key to our survival. Flooding events are also becoming more frequent so how we manage the land on floodplains is also vital.

“Of course we need to feed a growing population, and we need to consider energy demands too. Land is now multifunctional providing many different ecosystem services. All these demands must be traded off against one another and that is the theme of this new book.”

• What do you reckon land’s for? Comments below, please.

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Are you talented Tenor? Dartington International Summer School is looked for one to be the dastard Pinkerton in Madam Buterfly.

The role is part of the summer school’s Advanced Opera course, which runs from August 15 to August 30. According to them it’s aninvaluable opportunity for singers on the threshold of their professional careers.

Plus there’s a 100% bursary available for this position, which includes all accommodation, food and course fees are included, plus access to concerts.

If you’re interested, you’ve got to at least prove you can carry a tune in a bucket and send a short recording and a CV to summerschool@dartington.org

posted by Cptn

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Katie Marie spends a week tackling spiders in her studio without resorting to her famous brews

How fantastic is all this lovely sunshine? It’s almost been worth putting up with all that yucky rain for this wonderful week of wonderful sunny stuff… we want more!

This week has been much less hectic for me and I’ve had time to do really basic stuff that most of the time I take for granted, like sitting down and eating a proper meal rather than buying crappy overpriced food from a petrol station and eating it super quick on the way to a gig!

But the best-est thing for me is that I finally have time to spend in my studio… which if you’re a fellow songwriting person like me you’ll understand me when I say that it’s more than just a room with some recording equipment, it’s your own creative space where you can shut the door and just get totally lost in music (paradise in other words), which I’ve been seriously missing.

As I’ve been gigging so much lately, yesterday was the first day I’d ventured in my studio for about a week – and in the space of seven days my biggest rivals had already started to take over. I’ll give you a clue what I’m talking about, they’ve got eight legs, spin biiiiggg webs and can make the biggest bulkiest blokes scream like a four-year-old girl… yep, the spiders had begun their mission in taking back the studio!

My studio is made up of two ex-stable rooms and were literally just shells with not much in them – with the exception of a ga-zillion spiders, most of which I had politly asked to move to the stables over the way. But a few of them refused and didn’t take kindly to my recent re-decorating efforts. So they had all set up webs in the most ‘orrible of places, such as the front door so as soon as I go wandering in I get a face full of web – yuck! But we’ve all sat down and had a good old chat and come to an arrangement about where they can hang out.

The next few weeks I’ll be spending as much time as possible working on my new album, which has been put on the back-burner for far too long, due to having to focus far too much of my efforts on boring grown-up stuff (such as paying bills), but as I’m back to doing music full time and my studio is all finished up I can really get stuck in again and *finally* get it finished up!

The aim is to have it all ready for my next German Tour (which is in October) and most of the tracks are all recorded and finished, but as there’s been a bit of a gap between when I originally started putting it all together I’ve written a few new tunes which I’d like to add. I can’t wait to have a finished CD and start promoting it!

The radio show is still loads and loads of fun and I look forward to it every single Saturday. This week could be highly amusing as I have to fit a four-piece band into the tiny weeny Soundart studios – could be interesting! Papa Fernando are popping into the studio to play a few tunes live on air – so do tune in if you can as it’s sure to be a laugh!

One shocking thing that happened to me this week… are you sitting down? I’ve gone off tea (**gasp!!**) I know! I’ve no idea what is going on, but I think I’ve only had one cup of tea in over seven days, baring in mind that I usually can drink anywhere between three and seven cups a day!! I just don’t fancy it at all. “So what on earth are you drinking instead Katie??” I hear you cry.

Well… this:

Which in case you don’t know, is essentially fake coffee – it tastes like coffee, but isn’t coffee… kinda like coffee for kids (lol) which is really weird as I *hate* coffee and I’m not grown up enough to drink the stuff. So will I ever go back to the utterly brilliant, super-dooper hot drink that is tea? I’ll letcha know next week!!

• Check out Katie Marie on MySpace, or on her website.

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The Landmatters community, who live in low-impact dwellings near Totnes, are opening their doors to demonstrate transition and permaculture in action on Sunday June 7.

The Landmatters Community, based near Allaleigh, won the right to live on the land they own and work together for three years, in 2007.

During the open day you’ll be able to see how far the group has developed in their transition to a post-oil future.

You’ll be able see how they live, grow their food, get their energy, and see how permaculture can play a part in everyday life. There will be guided tours of the community at 12:30pm and 2:30pm, but it’s an all-day thing. Tea will be provided, but bring picnic food to share.

As member of  Landmatters Community, Charlotte Oliver, told the PRSD: “Lots of people locally have been very supportive towards us, and very interested in our permaculture community, and this is a great opportunity for us to throw open our doors and welcome people in.

“We’d really love people to come and see what we have done over the past four years, to enjoy a day out on our beautiful piece of land, share a picnic, and chat over tea with us about the community and what we are trying to achieve.

“As evidence builds for big changes in our climate, this project offers the chance to explore some solutions to the challenges that those changes will bring.”

• Getting there: Be aware that the low-impact community will not be able to accommodate private cars, even if shared, on the day.

Take the Dartmouth Bus 111 from nr The Seven Stars Hotel to the Forces Inn (nr Woodlands) then walk 15 minutes down the green lane to the community (nr Allaleigh).

To cycle there via the green lanes and Tuckenhay, the Totnes Cycling Group will be riding out en masse at 11am from the Plains, Totnes, all are welcome, (“slow, speedy, experienced, or beginners – we always wait!”) Five miles approx – 1.5 hours or so…

For more info and directions ring Lou on 01803 867358, and if you need alternative transportation please book well in advance.

posted by Cptn

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Think of a cattle market café and a slightly shabby eatery serving doorstep sandwiches and caustic tea might come to mind – ubiquitous welly-boots and associated manure making for surroundings that are more sterile than welcoming. So the Cattle Market Café in Tavistock is a bit of a welcome surprise.

With local artwork (currently Frances Thomas) covering the walls and an imaginative menu (including the highly-recommended spinach cheesecake with basil), it is easy to forget that the café overlooks pens, which may well have been a stopping-off point for the raw ingredients in the lamb rissoles. Customers, farming and non-farming, are made to feel equally welcome. And the floors, I’m pleased to report, are sparkling clean.

The café, run by Jane Osborne of Food Dreckly, is proud of its ‘Eat local, eat seasonally and when we can’t do that eat/drink Fairtrade’ ethos; a planter full of tasty leaves by the front door café currently provides interest in the salads and the origins of the local ingredients used in CM dishes are proudly displayed on the Food Dreckly website.

Artist displays change regularly, providing an excellent excuse to drop in. There is, however, a restricted menu on Market Days.

Based in Tavistock, but a short walk out from the main drag of shops (and well-placed for a guilt-relieving hike on the moor afterwards), the Cattle Market Café won a silver Taste of the West award in 2008.

• UPDATE: as of late January 2011, the Cattle Market Cafe is under new management. Here’s the new link to their site: www.thecattlemarketcafe.co.uk/

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Election round up by Disabled Kevin

Until Thursday 14th, I was going to write a piece arguing why you should not use your vote in the European and local elections on June 4, as a protest vote but I cannot think of a good reason why to argue this!

I don’t mind MPs claiming expenses and having second homes, were appropriate but I cannot understand why some MPs think it is ok to claim for such things as £1000 TVs, claiming interest payments on mortgages which have been paid off, dog food, moat cleaning and multiple second homes.

I do not accept the defence ‘it was within the rules’! I hope if I ever got elected, if I felt it was necessary to buy a TV on my expenses I would claim less than £75! If I ever claim for biscuits I hope everyone would question my sanity.

MPs must be paid enough so they do their job properly, if they feel their wages are not enough to carry out their duties, they must make the case for adequate wages. We want our representatives to look after our needs and not to have reason for grubbing around, thinking of ways to increase their income!

Although professional politicians do not apologise very often and they are entitled to make forceful defences of their positions, sometimes they have to realise they must say sorry, even though they feel they are not in the wrong!

On Thursday I felt that the Government had really lost touch with reality when; that night’s Labour Party European election broadcast, solely concentrated on attacking David Cameron, Margaret Beckett would not even concede she maybe in the wrong and Shalid Malik thought it was acceptable to claim for a £2000 home theatre system!

Although some Tories live in another era, David Cameron did at least rerecord his European broadcast to explain how he was tackling Tories MPs’ expenses misuses and this reinforce my perception that Labour Ministers do not understand the anger of the electorate.

The European and local elections should be about the issues but everyone is focused on MPS expenses, so many hard working Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors will be harshly punish, if the public can register their outrage to the political leadership by voting for ‘alterative’ parties, this maybe the best way of renewing our democracy!

posted by Disabled Kevi

Got an opinion? Twitter #devonelection #swelection

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