The question of whether both organic and conventional growers are receiving a fair return for their produce reached parliament last week.

Labour MP for Bolton South East, Brian Iddon, raised the issue on behalf of organic growers with a question directed at Defra parliamentary under-secretary Jonathan Shaw.

“Is my hon. Friend as concerned as I am about the hype of so-called organic foods by the supermarkets, which is obviously resulting in higher profits for them, but not necessarily for the growers here in Britain or in faraway places like Kenya?” he asked.

Shaw replied that it is important that labelling, particularly of organic products, is accurate, but added that it is vital to get the relationship balance right between the supplier and supermarket.

Asked by fellow Labour MP Keith Vaz what discussions he had had with supermarkets on the prices paid to suppliers, Shaw added: “Ministers have hled a number of meetings with supermarkets, but not specifically on prices paid to suppliers.”

He also said that he was not able to comment on the evidence that the Competition Commission unearths until its complete findings are presented.

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