Chefs hope to have recipes to save British pig farmers

The plight of a Yorkshire pig farmer is highlighted in a new recipe booklet by top chefs. Catherine Scott reports.

Some of the UK’s leading chefs have shown their support for struggling pig farmers with the launch of a recipe booklet.

The booklet, Choose It and Use It, highlights the versatility of pork, bacon, ham and sausages and calls on shoppers to help pig farmers by buying products that carry quality labels such as Red Tractor pork.

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The booklet also includes the stories of eight pig farmers including father and daughter farmers, Richard and Anna Longthorp of Howden.

Raymond Blanc, Phil Vickery, Brian Turner and Aldo Zilli are among the chefs who have contributed their favourite pork recipes alongside Celebrity Masterchef finalists, Christine Hamilton and Liz McClarnon.

Jamie Oliver, whose 2009 TV documentary, Jamie Saves Our Bacon championed high welfare pig farmers, is also supporting the campaign.

In a recent survey 70 per cent of pig farmers said they would consider quitting in the next 24 months if they don’t get a better price for their meat. This could lead to a huge drop in the availability of pork, bacon, sausages and ham carrying quality marks such as the Red Tractor, meaning shoppers could lose the choice to buy a higher welfare product.

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Richard Longthorpe said: “We suffered major losses due to high feed prices between 2007 and 2008. Although things improved for a while the problem has returned and the situation is even worse now. So we are incredibly grateful to all the chefs who have backed our campaign by contributing their recipes and calling on shoppers to look for quality marks such as the Red Tractor on pack.”

Richard has been breeding pigs near Howden in East Yorkshire for 25 years. His daughter, Anna, also farms as well as running a pork wholesale business, Anna’s Happy Trotters.

They are particularly proud of the fantastic marbling, created by their special cross breed, that they believe produces crackling to die for.

Anna said: “The recipes in this book just go to show again how tasty, quick and convenient dishes made with pork, bacon and sausage can be. We’d like people to try them and look for quality pork such as that carrying the Red Tractor pork logo when they are shopping.”

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Jamie Oliver said: “Pig farmers still need your help, so when you’re deciding on the Sunday roast why not choose pork, and do please make sure you look for quality marks like the Red Tractor because that ensures high welfare standards.”

Phil Vickery said: “I just love cooking with pork. It’s such a versatile meat and full of flavour too.”

“When you buy pork in the shops look for quality marks such as the Red Tractor, as this supports farmers with high standards of welfare.”

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* The booklet is available to download from www.pigsarestillworthit.co.uk

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