FG propose a Green Ireland (“guaranteed Irish”) label

[idefix]

From this press release

The latest Fine Gael rip-off survey last month showed that consumers are paying mark-ups of over 200% on basic foodstuffs in our major supermarkets, while farmers continue to endure falling prices for their produce. Large retailers are making huge profits from the Irish market at the expense of both consumers and producers with the consequence that quality Irish food is being undermined and farmers are at risk of going out of business.

Fine Gael's solution (among others) to this rip-off is to put greener labels on Irish food products. Fantastic idea and they get to spit on free trade at the same time.

[west_brit]

Didn't F.F. do that in the 30's and didn't we have an economic war :

[idefix]

Didn't F.F. do that in the 30's and didn't we have an economic war :

That was about land annuities.

[west_brit]

Your right. My bad.

[MacCoise]

would produce from the north qualify for a green label or do they get orange ones?

[meriwether]

would produce from the north qualify for a green label or do they get orange ones?

They get purple ones.

[west_brit]

Labour might try to pitch a Red Stamp though then again it may be a little pinker then red :wink:

[aodh_rua]

Labour might try to pitch a Red Stamp though then again it may be a little pinker then red :wink:

And I suppose Fianna Fáil would wrap their produce in a carefully crumpled brown envelope and Sinn Féin would bury the stuff so it can be eaten in the future if the shelves become occupied by sasanach grub.

Seriously though - I think this is a good idea on a number of levels. There's no doubt that if Irish farmers could get a decent cut of the store prices there'd be less need for subsidies (they currently get around a third of the supermarket price), and anything to encourage people to buy Irish might help with that by strengthening the farmer's position. There's also the dieticians' advice that we should eat more produce that is in season and from our local areas. I suppose this would help us identify more clearly what is Irish and what's not.

[david]

People complain about 'rip-off' food prices.
















Then go and shop at Tesco.

[idefix]

Seriously though - I think this is a good idea on a number of levels. There's no doubt that if Irish farmers could get a decent cut of the store prices there'd be less need for subsidies (they currently get around a third of the supermarket price), and anything to encourage people to buy Irish might help with that by strengthening the farmer's position. There's also the dieticians' advice that we should eat more produce that is in season and from our local areas. I suppose this would help us identify more clearly what is Irish and what's not.

Do you see anything bad about it like that consumers could end up paying more?