Yorkshire to host consumer conference

It will be the first time the conference has been held in the county, and will take place on March 29 at Askham Bryan College, near York.

Speakers will include hill farming expert Will Cockbain and Paul Brereton, head of Fera International at the Food and Environment Research Agency who will speak on the topical issue of food labelling.

The NFU's Graham Ward will speak about food security especially in the area of fruit and vegetables and Heather Parry, deputy chief executive for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, will speak about the challenges faced and benefits of using unique and environment friendly materials.

The WFU represents consumers and producers, by promotingquality British farm produce andaddressing the issues that concern all consumers.

Barbara Scholefield, Co-ordinator of the Yorkshire WFU said, "It is a great pleasure to welcome WFU members to Yorkshire to one of the country's leading agricultural colleges. Our line up of speakers is first rate and we are expecting WFU members from all over the country to attend the conference."

Next week will see the National Farmers' Union hold its annual conference, with all the country's top politicians and farming leaders due to appear.

The conference, being held at Birmingham's Metropole Hotel on February 23 and 24, will also see the elections of key posts including those of vice-president and deputy president of the union.