NFU SourceDirect was launched by the National Farmers' Union and will allow retailers and caterers to source produce from local and regional farmers and growers on a wholesale basis via a new map-based website.
The initiative will allow customers to meet the growing demand from consumers for food produced locally while helping growers to supply directly to meet this demand.
Farmers and growers will pay a fee to register their produce on the website, which has been developed in association with internet retailer BigBarn and can be accessed via www.nfuonline.com.
NFU vice president Michael Paske said: 'NFU SourceDirect will make it easy for retail and catering businesses to source local and regional primary or lightly processed agricultural and horticultural products from NFU farmer and grower members.
'Retailers and caterers are more and more aware that their consumers want local produce so we anticipate a large demand for the service. It will also help our farmer and grower members to reconnect with their customers.' The service is exclusive to NFU farmer and grower members and will be suitable for those that produce food, plants or flowers in wholesale quantities. For a £150 registration fee, members will register their details including minimum and maximum order size, packaging, assurance scheme membership and price.
The NFU is encouraging member to register for the scheme before it goes live in July. The first 300 to sign up will get a free webpage on the site to provide further details to buyers.
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