Overseas Or Not? A Customer's Response

09 July 2013
Dear Farm Direct

I thought that I'd drop you a line to explain why I voted against the idea of Farm Direct selling imported foods, even if they are fairly traded.

The aspect which attracted me to FD in the first place was the notion that the produce would be British.  Not only should we support British producers but we should also celebrate the best of British food as its reputation has taken a battering over the years. If FD does decide to sell imported produce it will, in my opinion lose its unique selling point and will then bear direct comparison with say Abel and Cole. This was the very reason I decided not to buy from Abel and Cole.

As a supporter of the Slow Food Movement principles and its initiatives such as Terra Madre, I do believe that help should be given to those who need it to become self-sufficient in order to live their lives and raise the families in healthy and progressive environments however, there are other ways of achieving these ends.

In summary, not only do I want to see good British food lauded but I also want to see the environmental damage of long haul transportation minimized.

Don't lose your USP!


Comments
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Comment title:
Comment:
Jane Palmer
Created on: 14/07/2013 06:58
I agree. I recently switched from Abel and Cole as I was unhappy that the food I was buying had come from so far away. I value the fact that everything from Farm direct is from the UK and am always excited to see where things have come from. These days people expect everything always to be available. I enjoy having a seasonal diet and look forward to those summer, autumn treats.
Robert Barker
Created on: 24/07/2013 17:26
Overseas Fruit
I just want to join in with Robert in N7 re thinking it is not a good idea to extend your range to fair trade produce from abroad.  

My reasons like his are partly re preferring local and seeing this as your main point, but they are also pragmatic.  At the moment your business seems to be near the limits of its capacity to go on being small and friendly and yet efficient.  

I really like (rather) small and friendly...  and I don't like feeling I'm cruising through a supermarket when I scroll through your pages, as I already rather do.  You do already deviate from the perfectly local with stuff like marigold buillon which of course I find convenient but can easily get elsewhere with just a little extra trouble - and is imported from Switzerland.

So maybe you need to have a deep think about what Farm Direct is all about? atb Dinah