Comments on: The Prince and the Pig Farmer http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer Cooking - Photography & More Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:18:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4405 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:50:20 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4405 Elsie, Thanks for mentioning that, I didn't know about it. Children really do need better educating about food, where it comes from and how it is cooked. I go back to what I said earlier who will know what to buy from a butcher in the future? Thanks again. Miles Elsie,
Thanks for mentioning that, I didn’t know about it. Children really do need better educating about food, where it comes from and how it is cooked. I go back to what I said earlier who will know what to buy from a butcher in the future?
Thanks again.
Miles

]]> by: Elsie Nean http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4374 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:07:04 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4374 Miles, I was heartened by a report in the local radio, that a "Cooking Bus" had arrived at one of the Schools. It appears that this bus goes to various schools, providing lessons in different types of cooking and food technology. A representative of that particular school stated that they had always retained their weekly cooking lesson of 1.40 hour (saying: Pssst). It was clearly not part of the national curriculum - now back in fashion. At least that is something. It is an arguable point whether the time spent as a proportion of the week is sufficient, bearing in mind that for us humans to survive we need food and shelter! Perhaps the good side of rising food costs is that people will have to learn again? Elsie Miles,
I was heartened by a report in the local radio, that a “Cooking Bus” had arrived at one of the Schools. It appears that this bus goes to various schools, providing lessons in different types of cooking and food technology. A representative of that particular school stated that they had always retained their weekly cooking lesson of 1.40 hour (saying: Pssst). It was clearly not part of the national curriculum - now back in fashion. At least that is something.
It is an arguable point whether the time spent as a proportion of the week is sufficient, bearing in mind that for us humans to survive we need food and shelter!
Perhaps the good side of rising food costs is that people will have to learn again?
Elsie

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4366 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:39:36 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4366 Elsie, Thanks for that, a very interesting and worthwhile comment. I am struck by the figures you quote on the average household spend. On the one hand 25% does seem a lot but then our attitude to food has changed. How much more of our disposable income (what's left of it) can we realistically spend? I've said it before and both Cid and yourself have touched upon it, people need to be better educated in cooking and the meaning of 'food thrift'. We waste far too much food and that, to me is the real problem. Thanks again. Miles Elsie,
Thanks for that, a very interesting and worthwhile comment.
I am struck by the figures you quote on the average household spend. On the one hand 25% does seem a lot but then our attitude to food has changed. How much more of our disposable income (what’s left of it) can we realistically spend?
I’ve said it before and both Cid and yourself have touched upon it, people need to be better educated in cooking and the meaning of ‘food thrift’. We waste far too much food and that, to me is the real problem.
Thanks again.
Miles

]]> by: Elsie Nean http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4357 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:18:56 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4357 Miles, I just read an article in the Times where the MD of Waitrose is quoted as saying that did not take the moral road in terms of chickens and noted the interesting argument of the Tesco boss that the £1.99 chicken allows people to eat chicken who might not otherwise be able to afford to do so. His own company's decision however was based on the highest standard, with best welfare standards that taste great. Generally, he voiced concern about how we're are going to feed the world in the future with several billion people more to feed since 1900. He thought that the way we manage food and our relationship with food will have to change. Apparently, 25 years ago, 25% of disposable income went on food and it is now 9% and that this was not sustainable. People would have to start spending more on food as a proportion of their total disposable income. Sorry, if I have gone on a bit but I thought it relevant to your blogs and general comments. Elsie Miles,
I just read an article in the Times where the MD of Waitrose is quoted as saying that did not take the moral road in terms of chickens and noted the interesting argument of the Tesco boss that the £1.99 chicken allows people to eat chicken who might not otherwise be able to afford to do so. His own company’s decision however was based on the highest standard, with best welfare standards that taste great.
Generally, he voiced concern about how we’re are going to feed the world in the future with several billion people more to feed since 1900. He thought that the way we manage food and our relationship with food will have to change. Apparently, 25 years ago, 25% of disposable income went on food and it is now 9% and that this was not sustainable. People would have to start spending more on food as a proportion of their total disposable income.
Sorry, if I have gone on a bit but I thought it relevant to your blogs and general comments.
Elsie

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4332 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:44:21 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4332 Cid, It is pretty grim isn't it. The Collins boys were discussing this very subject over lunch today, in twenty years from now how many people aged 30-40 will be buying a joint of meat? how many will know what to do with one? How many will be having a three course lunch extravaganza like I did today courtesy of my mother :) Miles Cid,
It is pretty grim isn’t it. The Collins boys were discussing this very subject over lunch today, in twenty years from now how many people aged 30-40 will be buying a joint of meat? how many will know what to do with one? How many will be having a three course lunch extravaganza like I did today courtesy of my mother :)

Miles

]]> by: Cid http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4324 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 09:52:03 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4324 Miles, The best joints of meat I've had over the past couple of years have come from a certain supermarket in Lincoln. Having said that the local farmers market seem to do well with their regulars, although their produce is expensive and for good reason..... the people who curse the price of a free range chicken would never be persuaded I suspect. So where has this country come to..... they don't want to pay a few pounds more for free range meat, they don't want expensive rare breed farmers market stuff either on the whole and most of them own a pet rabbit so they don't want to eat rabbit. All you can do is to keep this subject in the arena. Child benefit should have a £20 voucher to spend only on butcher shop meat perhaps? Cid - who'll be eating fresh tuna today, £3 per person and line caught. Tomorrow, something that requires homemade free range chicken stock..... I'm thinking paella. Miles,

The best joints of meat I’ve had over the past couple of years have come from a certain supermarket in Lincoln. Having said that the local farmers market seem to do well with their regulars, although their produce is expensive and for good reason….. the people who curse the price of a free range chicken would never be persuaded I suspect.

So where has this country come to….. they don’t want to pay a few pounds more for free range meat, they don’t want expensive rare breed farmers market stuff either on the whole and most of them own a pet rabbit so they don’t want to eat rabbit. All you can do is to keep this subject in the arena. Child benefit should have a £20 voucher to spend only on butcher shop meat perhaps?

Cid - who’ll be eating fresh tuna today, £3 per person and line caught. Tomorrow, something that requires homemade free range chicken stock….. I’m thinking paella.

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4321 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:21:36 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4321 Rod, There will always be money for beer and fags, regardless. Miles Rod,
There will always be money for beer and fags, regardless.

Miles

]]> by: Rod http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4320 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:10:56 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4320 Miles I think it is worth beating the drum, it may not change the world but if enough people do it it does make a difference. I don't fully buy the 'can't afford it' argument either. I know it's a factor but often more something to say and hide behind. The most expensive food I have eaten recently was also the most unhealthy. It was a chinese takeaway which was basically rubbish but ended up costing about £7 per head ! £7 for one plate of Cr*p ! Those people who cannot afford a decent sausage or a reasonable free range chicken are buying the likes of the above. Remember the guy on HFW's Chicken Out show who was swearing and shouting about Hugh calling him all the names under the sun. Claimed he had to live in the real world and could not afford a free range chicken for his family on Sunday (would give them another meal on Monday as well). His tirade took place in his local pub. He sat there making these statements with a pint of beer and a packet of cigarettes in front of him. <b>1 beer + 20 cigarettes is over £7</b> The cost of a free range chicken for his wife and children he cares so much about ! Rant Over ! Rod Miles
I think it is worth beating the drum, it may not change the world but if enough people do it it does make a difference.

I don’t fully buy the ‘can’t afford it’ argument either. I know it’s a factor but often more something to say and hide behind.

The most expensive food I have eaten recently was also the most unhealthy.
It was a chinese takeaway which was basically rubbish but ended up costing about £7 per head !

£7 for one plate of Cr*p !

Those people who cannot afford a decent sausage or a reasonable free range chicken are buying the likes of the above.

Remember the guy on HFW’s Chicken Out show who was swearing and shouting about Hugh calling him all the names under the sun.
Claimed he had to live in the real world and could not afford a free range chicken for his family on Sunday (would give them another meal on Monday as well).

His tirade took place in his local pub. He sat there making these statements with a pint of beer and a packet of cigarettes in front of him.
1 beer + 20 cigarettes is over £7
The cost of a free range chicken for his wife and children he cares so much about !
Rant Over !
Rod

]]> by: miles http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4312 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:34:21 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4312 Rod, I have to agree with you, most people if questioned on an ethical matter will automatically give an answer they believe to be politically correct. "Should you eat intensively reared chickens?" the majority will aswer 'no', they should ask 'Can you afford to eat anything other than intensively reared chickens' This post highlights a huge problem in the pig farming industry but as you say, who really cares? It's a Catch 22, on the one hand I feel I should beat the drum for buying better quality but on the other how can you realistically expect most people to be able to do it? ASDA/Wal-Mart will sell these sausages and the people buying them either don't or can't afford to care about what is in them. Miles Rod,
I have to agree with you, most people if questioned on an ethical matter will automatically give an answer they believe to be politically correct. “Should you eat intensively reared chickens?” the majority will aswer ‘no’, they should ask ‘Can you afford to eat anything other than intensively reared chickens’
This post highlights a huge problem in the pig farming industry but as you say, who really cares?
It’s a Catch 22, on the one hand I feel I should beat the drum for buying better quality but on the other how can you realistically expect most people to be able to do it?
ASDA/Wal-Mart will sell these sausages and the people buying them either don’t or can’t afford to care about what is in them.

Miles

]]> by: Rod http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4309 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:20:20 +0000 http://www.milescollins.com/wordpress/the-prince-and-the-pig-farmer#comment-4309 Miles, to pick up on your other point about the chicken issue. I doubt it will get the same momentum really. The TV programmes helped with the free range chicken issue. Also the exponents of the cause, namely Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstal and Jamie Oliver, carry more credibility, public and media appeal than Prince Charles. It is a good cause but I'm afraid the British public get largely what they deserve and whilst opinion polls in this country all say we care when it comes down to it most do not. Sad but true. Kudos to you for raising the matter and helping with the publicity, I knew nothing of the new campaign before reading your blog - another difference between this and the free range chicken issue. Rod Miles,
to pick up on your other point about the chicken issue.
I doubt it will get the same momentum really. The TV programmes helped with the free range chicken issue.
Also the exponents of the cause, namely Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstal and Jamie Oliver, carry more credibility, public and media appeal than Prince Charles.

It is a good cause but I’m afraid the British public get largely what they deserve and whilst opinion polls in this country all say we care when it comes down to it most do not.
Sad but true.

Kudos to you for raising the matter and helping with the publicity, I knew nothing of the new campaign before reading your blog - another difference between this and the free range chicken issue.
Rod

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