Ministry announces support for ailing farming and fishing industry

Recognising that prices are being forced down as a result of the recession, Amer said that her department was going to promote the sale of fruit, vegetables and fish through a “Local Produce” commercialisation scheme.

As a first step to giving the Balearic fresh food market a boost, there were tasting sessions yesterday at the Palma markets of Olivar, Santa Catalina and Pere Garau as well as in the town centre market at Manacor. The “Local Produce” scheme is being adhered to by 246 affiliates - producers, stallholders and companies who have opted to back the marketing of fresh foodstuffs grown and caught in the Balearics as opposed to importing them from elsewhere.

Amer said that backing local producers is not only increasing the income of farmers and fishermen, but is also a guarantee of quality for the consumer. She said that in the coming weeks, meat producers are going to be adding their name to the marketing campaign. “The difference about food produced here in the islands,” said Amer, is that we can track every step from its source in the countryside or sea to the time it reaches the shelves of shops and markets. We can't do that with imported products.”