Pork pie problem: UK food traditions to lose EU support
Is local provenance a worthwhile thing or a bit of local food vanity? I have strong views in favour of the process but what do you think about this story. It tells us
Welsh farmers like Rees Roberts, who has 1,000 acres with sheep, cattle and crops, can expect to earn a premium on their meats thanks to a certificate of regional authenticity.
But that marker of distinction — the same kind that ensures Champagne can only come from the French region of the same name — is granted by the European Union and is now at risk after Britain voted to leave the 28-country bloc.
The certificates, of which there are 73 across Britain for goods like Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies, not only help farmers earn more but also shape rural communities’ identities. Add to that the loss of $3.97 billion in EU subsidies for U.K. farmers, potential new tariffs and fears that agriculture will not be prioritized in trade talks with the EU, and the decision to leave the 28-nation bloc promises to be painful.
“The voters weren’t thinking it through,” said Roberts, 65, as he discussed the uncertainty with fellow farmers at a fair in the village of Builth Wells.