CBL wants more time to assess FDF quality mark

In a registered letter, the Central Bureau for Food Trade (CBL) asks FDF for extra time to assess the Farmer Friendly quality mark of Farmers Defense Force (FDF). A large number of farmers are not satisfied with this. Protests have been organized throughout the country at large Jumbo distribution centers.

The CBL, the umbrella organization of supermarkets, informed FDF in a letter in January that it wanted to meet with several parties to discuss the earning capacity of farmers and horticulturists. In addition, in the letter the CBL is critical of the current state of affairs with regard to the attitude and statements from, among others, FDF members regarding the ultimatum of 10 December and the CBL's failure to pursue this ultimatum. 

Involve multiple parties
In November, the CBL indicated that it would consider the FarmerFriendly quality mark, but says that they need more time than FDF demands. The umbrella organization therefore calls on FDF to stop threats against the CBL and its members.

According to the CBL, several parties must be involved in order to have a meaningful discussion. In the letter, the supermarket representative states that about 80% of what is produced by Dutch farmers and market gardeners goes across the border. The CBL therefore calls on various farmers' and horticulturists' organisations, the food processing industry, exporters and the hospitality and catering sector to join the proposed discussion in January. In the letter, the CBL invites the Ministry of Agriculture, LTO Nederland, Agractie and FDF, among others, to participate in the discussion.

hardened relationship
"Where previously the talks with FDF were on good terms, the CBL is now surprised that the tone seems to have hardened and that an ultimatum is being discussed," said CBL director Marc Jansen. 

Jansen is referring to a few statements and messages that are doing the rounds on social media, not all of which come from FDF. "The CBL does not hesitate to recover any damage caused to its members from the liable parties, regardless of whether they are affiliated with FDF," the CEO said. 

protest actions
Since 3 o'clock this morning, a group of farmers has been blocking the entrance to a large Jumbo distribution center in Woerden. FDF says on its site that this is not an initiative on their part. In this way, the farmers express their anger about exceeding the ultimatum that was given to the CBL about the FarmerFriendly initiative. In consultation with the police, trucks were allowed through again around 10 am this morning.

In the afternoon, Jumbo distribution centers in Beilen in Drenthe and Veghel in North Brabant were also blocked. The farmers in Woerden indicate that they will not leave until they have spoken to the management of Jumbo. The Jumbo top just does not seem to give in, nor has the CBL made itself heard.

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