History of the Women's Food and Farming Union

In the late nineteen seventies, when the WFU was founded by a group of women in the Kent apple industry, the dominant rationale of UK food production was the drive for self-sufficiency that had characterised the post war decades. The success of this policy and European support schemes led to increasing commodity surpluses. In the early eighties the introduction of milk quotas and the cereal levy signified the beginning of change. However, the momentum of the industry to pursue production could not easily be slowed, and indeed for some time the government continued to urge farmers to 'produce, produce, produce'.

The surpluses generated by the European system of subsidies were easy targets for the media who quickly tagged them milk 'lakes' and butter 'mountains', fuelling the feeling that the security of our food supply was no longer a priority. With no single authoritative voice to defend the industry, and an increasing number of single-issue groups grabbing media headlines, it should have been no great surprise that the public perception of the role of farmers would undergo a major change. The respect that had been enjoyed by those who provided the food and managed the countryside was replaced, in what seemed a comparatively short space of time, by an image of farmers as over-subsidised, greedy fat cats, oblivious to concerns of other countryside users.

Farmers did little to help stem the tide, being unwilling to recognise the need to consider change. For the most part, they wanted to continue to focus on the production of food and to simply deliver their 'crop' into the hands of the various marketing boards.

From the outset, the focus of the Women's Farming Union, as it was then known, was food production and the marketing of UK produce, and this has remained fundamental to WFU's concerns in respect of broader agricultural issues. In 1998 'Food' was added to the name, reinforcing that focus and WFU's commitment to link producer and consumer through every aspect of the food chain.

In 1979, when those founding members of WFU took up the fight against the dumping of illegal imports on the UK market, their campaign was characterised by a unique approach. As fruit growers and regular users of supermarkets, they could see the poor presentation of quality British fruit to the consumer resulted in damage and economic loss and was no match for the more sophisticated delivery and promotion of imported fruit.

Quickly developing skills in lobbying and direct action, and drawing support from other fruit growing areas of the country, they lobbied energetically on behalf of the industry, both in Westminster and Brussels. Through the trade and national press, who relished headlines about 'women farmers taking on the French', they set out the industry's case and appealed directly to the public. At the same time, they urged producers to take a hard look at the marketing of their produce, to visit major retailers and other points of sale, and re-evaluate the handling of their product after it left the farm.

The extensive media coverage of WFU's campaign on behalf of the British apple industry helped draw support from all parts of the country and from all sectors of agriculture. By the mid-eighties a network of county branches had formed, with a growing membership eager to promote quality British farm produce and to tackle the gulf of understanding between food producers and consumers. The membership was and remains largely women, most of whom have a stake, through their own or the family's business, in a future for UK agriculture. As wives and mothers, they have a major interest in health and nutrition, an empathy with other consumers who share those concerns.

WFU has always stressed the importance of contact with the consumer, a contact that had largely been lost by the farming industry. More than a decade before the Curry Policy Commission Report on the Future of Farming and Food (Curry Report) was published in 2002, Elizabeth Browning, chairman of WFU (1985-93), was calling for the industry to 'respond more readily to the needs and concerns of our customers whether in food production or in the use and maintenance of the countryside'. WFU has always urged the need for quality and high standards of production and championed consumer choice, demonstrating its claim to be the catalyst 'linking producer and consumer' through campaigns, contacts with other groups of consumers and extensive display work at shows and food fairs.

Through the eighties and nineties growing criticism of farming practices, from straw burning to the use of pesticides and intensive rearing methods, fuelled the perception that farmers were indifferent to public concern. The criticism intensified with a series of food scares that clouded any positive messages. UK producers continued to respond only slowly to changing demands in the marketplace. The pig and poultry industries were exceptions in responding to consumer demand for leaner meat (more chicken breast and less leg), only to be rewarded with unilateral regulations that discriminated against UK producers. BSE hardened dislike of intensive practices among a section of consumers. The succeeding economic downturn in agriculture pushed many in the industry in new directions, to niche markets or organics, and of necessity to an increasing consumer awareness.

WFU has always encouraged children to visit farms and find out for themselves what farming is all about. Members have been trained to talk to children about farming in the context of today's Natioanl Curriculum. If schools cannot find the time to visit a farm, them WFU will visit schools.

Her Majesty The Queen presents the "Young Cook of the Year 1989" award to Karen Storr. WFU regret the demise of cookery and home economics as school subjects. Modern day food technology does not prepare youngsters well enough to cater for themselves in today's moderns coiety. Too many do not understand the essentials of a healthy diet. Current knowledge is usully derived from the press, which is not always well informed and tends to dwell on one issue at a time.

Candidates in the 'Fresh Taste of Britain' Celebration Cook of the Year competition finals, 1st March 1989 at the Farmers' and Fletchers' Livery Hall in the City of London. The competition drew entries from home economics students throughout Britain, who each produced a menu for a celebration occasion using fresh local produce.
The judges were Derek Cooper, presenter of Radio 4's Food Programme, Chef Philip Corrick, Franics Bissell, the Times Cook, Dr Heulwen Hall, Head of Home Economics and Manchester Polytechnic, pictured with contestants and Elizabeth Browning, WFU National Chairman.

The WFU display at the Food and Farming Festival in Hyde Park in 1989 - a game based on the principal of Snakes and Ladders and designed to show the ups and downs of farming to the public.

WFU still are found at shows and demonstrations around the country - talking to consumers about modern farming.

WFU members regularly check supermarket shelves to compare products and displays of different produce. Although members shop regularly for their own families, much of this work is done on a professional basis through WFU's commercial arm Projectline Ltd. Members are conversant with the products and consumers' views and use their expertise appropriately.

The Women's Farming Union changed its name to the Women's Food and Farming Union in 1998 to reflect their emphasis on the food and amrketing aspects of farming as opposed to the technical farming side, although we still take a great interest in farming for the environment.

www.wfu.org.uk