FDF develops quality mark with supermarkets

Farmers Defense Force (FDF) is developing the Farmer Friendly quality mark together with the supermarkets, united in the CBL. This concept is intended to give Dutch farmers a better position in the chain and thus be rewarded more fairly for their products. A Farmer Friendly cooperative of farmers is also being set up for this purpose.

This has been announced by FDF in a communication to its followers. The first talks have been held with 'an important Dutch supermarket umbrella', reports the farmers' movement. Recently, FDF chairman Mark van den Oever posted a photo of him with, among others, CBL director Marc Jansen in the FDF app groups.

Super thinks fair pay is important to farmers
The cooperation is striking, because before Christmas, FDF and the CBL fought out a preliminary injunction to prevent demonstrations with tractors for distribution centers of supermarkets. Now it's about a different tack. "Supermarket chains have often indicated in the media that they find fair remuneration for farmers important. The quality mark has been received positively. Further discussions will follow to see if and how we can work together in the future," says FDF.

The intention is for supermarkets to show through advertisements that they have been awarded the Farmer Friendly quality mark, explains FDF. "In this way, it becomes clear to consumers whether the supermarket treats Dutch farmers in a friendly way (price) and sells high-quality, honest products produced by Dutch farmers. This allows the consumer to make a conscious choice."

Star system
The quality mark consists of a so-called star system. A supermarket qualifies for the one, two or three gold star quality mark. The supermarket pays a percentage of the annual turnover directly to the farmers who have become members of the Farmer Friendly cooperative, which will set up FDF. The quality mark will receive a payment system in the form of 1%, 2% or 3% of the annual turnover of the supermarket. The percentage depends on the quality mark that the supermarket has acquired, FDF reports.

Farmers Defense Force also reports that it will also set up an association in addition to the foundation. The aim of the association is to improve the market position of the farmer in the chain and a fairer distribution of margins. This also makes FDF a member organization. Through the foundation, FDF continues to represent interests and therefore also organize any actions.

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