Milk campaigners enlist Women's Institute for protests at Colne supermarket

11:00am Sunday 22nd July 2012 in Pendle Photograph of the Author By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

MILK campaigners in East Lancashire have enlisted the help of the Women’s Institute to shame supermarkets into paying them a living wage.

Protesters from Gisburn WI lobbied customers outside the Asda store in Colne on Saturday in the latest wave of action against the price paid by the high street giants to suppliers.

And Kathleen Calvert, who helps to run a dairy farm in Gisburn, said: “We received a lot of support from shoppers and even ran out of leaflets.

“We have got to get the message across that these retailers are ruining the lives of ordinary working people.”

Mrs Calvert and WI colleagues had taken part in a similar protest at Asda in Fulwood, near Preston, which prompted staff to call in the police. But the Colne protest saw no such intervention.

“I think they have realised that the police are there to uphold the law and not to save the likes of Asda from embarassment,” she added.

Supermarket bosses at Asda, Morrison’s and Co-operative have announced they will be increasing the prices paid to suppliers.

But Mrs Calvert is keen to ensure that the major players stick to their word and do not quietly introduce reductions when the present furore dies down.

Comments (20)

11:16am Sun 22 Jul 12

Izanears says...

Even if the supermarkets pay the farmers what it costs to produce milk, they are still working for nothing. It is obvious that as far as profitis concerned, then it only apples to their companies. Without profit there is no money to invest for the future.
Even if the supermarkets pay the farmers what it costs to produce milk, they are still working for nothing. It is obvious that as far as profitis concerned, then it only apples to their companies. Without profit there is no money to invest for the future. Izanears

11:48am Sun 22 Jul 12

i know alot says...

I HAVE YET TO MEET A FARMER THAT IS SKINT....If things were that bad why do farmers all have brand new 4x4s and brand new tractors.Is it not the fact that MORE wants MORE..!
I HAVE YET TO MEET A FARMER THAT IS SKINT....If things were that bad why do farmers all have brand new 4x4s and brand new tractors.Is it not the fact that MORE wants MORE..! i know alot

12:23pm Sun 22 Jul 12

louderfasterlonger says...

i know alot wrote:
I HAVE YET TO MEET A FARMER THAT IS SKINT....If things were that bad why do farmers all have brand new 4x4s and brand new tractors.Is it not the fact that MORE wants MORE..!
Many farmers are actually going out of business, not because they cannot produce milk cheaply enough but because of Supermarket greed. The supermarkets monopolise the prices and times it by 3 to sell to the customers, with obcene profits. It would cost nothing by comparison to make milk a loss-leader in the supermarkets to give the farmers the price they need to manage their herds and vast swathes of our countryside.
[quote][p][bold]i know alot[/bold] wrote: I HAVE YET TO MEET A FARMER THAT IS SKINT....If things were that bad why do farmers all have brand new 4x4s and brand new tractors.Is it not the fact that MORE wants MORE..![/p][/quote]Many farmers are actually going out of business, not because they cannot produce milk cheaply enough but because of Supermarket greed. The supermarkets monopolise the prices and times it by 3 to sell to the customers, with obcene profits. It would cost nothing by comparison to make milk a loss-leader in the supermarkets to give the farmers the price they need to manage their herds and vast swathes of our countryside. louderfasterlonger

1:54pm Sun 22 Jul 12

A Darener says...

I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts. A Darener

2:57pm Sun 22 Jul 12

2 for 5p says...

A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk. 2 for 5p

3:03pm Sun 22 Jul 12

2 for 5p says...

Flaming farmers again don't they just get on your wick.
If it was workers protesting outside a supermarket about poor pay or conditions the police would be in there mob handed breaking it up what makes farmers so special.
Also remember everybody who was it who wanted the obolition of the milk marketing board ? Farmers that's who because at the time they could extort more money out of the public .
I erge my supermarket to look after its customers and get milk at the cheapest price they can.
Flaming farmers again don't they just get on your wick. If it was workers protesting outside a supermarket about poor pay or conditions the police would be in there mob handed breaking it up what makes farmers so special. Also remember everybody who was it who wanted the obolition of the milk marketing board ? Farmers that's who because at the time they could extort more money out of the public . I erge my supermarket to look after its customers and get milk at the cheapest price they can. 2 for 5p

3:07pm Sun 22 Jul 12

A Darener says...

2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets. A Darener

3:20pm Sun 22 Jul 12

2 for 5p says...

A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.
its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria.
In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.
[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.[/p][/quote]its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria. In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether. 2 for 5p

3:29pm Sun 22 Jul 12

A Darener says...

2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.
its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria.
In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.
http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/foodanddrink/
3341324/Untreated-mi
lk-is-in-demand.html


If it was good enough for my parents, grand parents great grandparents etc. it is good enough for me.
Why do you think there are so many people allergic to milk, peanuts etc.....because they were not brought up on them. The human body requires impurities. My mum's philosophy was, we all need a little dirt each day this is very true.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.[/p][/quote]its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria. In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.[/p][/quote]http://www.telegraph .co.uk/foodanddrink/ 3341324/Untreated-mi lk-is-in-demand.html If it was good enough for my parents, grand parents great grandparents etc. it is good enough for me. Why do you think there are so many people allergic to milk, peanuts etc.....because they were not brought up on them. The human body requires impurities. My mum's philosophy was, we all need a little dirt each day this is very true. A Darener

4:47pm Sun 22 Jul 12

Izanears says...

i know alot wrote:
I HAVE YET TO MEET A FARMER THAT IS SKINT....If things were that bad why do farmers all have brand new 4x4s and brand new tractors.Is it not the fact that MORE wants MORE..!
Many farmers have 4x4's becuase they use them to tow trailers, and go across muddy fields. And as for brand new tractors, surely iknowalot must agree that they have to replace old ones. All those who are moaning about farmers just want to try being one for a month. They would soon find out what the job was really about.
[quote][p][bold]i know alot[/bold] wrote: I HAVE YET TO MEET A FARMER THAT IS SKINT....If things were that bad why do farmers all have brand new 4x4s and brand new tractors.Is it not the fact that MORE wants MORE..![/p][/quote]Many farmers have 4x4's becuase they use them to tow trailers, and go across muddy fields. And as for brand new tractors, surely iknowalot must agree that they have to replace old ones. All those who are moaning about farmers just want to try being one for a month. They would soon find out what the job was really about. Izanears

4:52pm Sun 22 Jul 12

A Darener says...

The tractors will probably either be leased or on large loan repayment plans. Farm equipment is very expensive and lots of it just lays around for months at a time e.g. Hay making equips. This is money that should be used for investment but cannot be. The hours worked alone make it one of the most intensive jobs on the planet. It is a 24 hours a day job. My friend is a retired farmer and apart from a week off for a honeymoon he never had a day off before his retirement.
The tractors will probably either be leased or on large loan repayment plans. Farm equipment is very expensive and lots of it just lays around for months at a time e.g. Hay making equips. This is money that should be used for investment but cannot be. The hours worked alone make it one of the most intensive jobs on the planet. It is a 24 hours a day job. My friend is a retired farmer and apart from a week off for a honeymoon he never had a day off before his retirement. A Darener

5:48pm Sun 22 Jul 12

psch says...

Subsidised farmers putting the price of milk up. Supermarkets stand firm
Subsidised farmers putting the price of milk up. Supermarkets stand firm psch

5:57pm Sun 22 Jul 12

A Darener says...

Do you think that you are not paying for the supermarkets using milk as a lost leader? They just put the cost of subsidising the milk on other products. Just look at how much profit a supermarket makes. They could afford to cut their profits dramatically and still have lots of money left over. Why should the French benefit from our farmers? Pay them what they should be and the money will be spent here not abroad.
Do you think that you are not paying for the supermarkets using milk as a lost leader? They just put the cost of subsidising the milk on other products. Just look at how much profit a supermarket makes. They could afford to cut their profits dramatically and still have lots of money left over. Why should the French benefit from our farmers? Pay them what they should be and the money will be spent here not abroad. A Darener

7:02pm Sun 22 Jul 12

Malthus says...

Wouldn't it be nice if the WI made a stand in favour of all of the people in the UK who are currently suffering as a result of the global economic situation. However instead they choose to highlight the "plight" of just one industry that is facing problems. Farmers would have us believe that they are the guardians of the countryside and they try to conjure up an image of a bucolic idyll that is under threat. The real fact is farms are nothing more than factories whose purpose is to produce as much as possible for as little as possible. I recently saw an Open University programme in which a dairy farm was almost totally automated, (check it out on YouTube). As people have said, you never see a skint farmer especially as they are in receipt of all kinds of subsidies and aid. Why should they get preferential support and treatment? There are plenty of small businesses going to the wall and I am certain that the farmers don't go out of their way to patronise these in order to keep them afloat. In fact there used to be a farmer who drove around Darwen delivering milk in a vehicle with a sticker proclaiming, *Keep Britain Farming." Sadly his transport was foreign made. At the end of the day this is a free market economy and if farmers can't hack it then they should cash in their assets and let somebody else have a go. Finally when these WI members and also farmers can honestly say that they have stopped using supermarkets, any other major retail outlets and only purchase locally produced products then I will do the same.
Wouldn't it be nice if the WI made a stand in favour of all of the people in the UK who are currently suffering as a result of the global economic situation. However instead they choose to highlight the "plight" of just one industry that is facing problems. Farmers would have us believe that they are the guardians of the countryside and they try to conjure up an image of a bucolic idyll that is under threat. The real fact is farms are nothing more than factories whose purpose is to produce as much as possible for as little as possible. I recently saw an Open University programme in which a dairy farm was almost totally automated, (check it out on YouTube). As people have said, you never see a skint farmer especially as they are in receipt of all kinds of subsidies and aid. Why should they get preferential support and treatment? There are plenty of small businesses going to the wall and I am certain that the farmers don't go out of their way to patronise these in order to keep them afloat. In fact there used to be a farmer who drove around Darwen delivering milk in a vehicle with a sticker proclaiming, *Keep Britain Farming." Sadly his transport was foreign made. At the end of the day this is a free market economy and if farmers can't hack it then they should cash in their assets and let somebody else have a go. Finally when these WI members and also farmers can honestly say that they have stopped using supermarkets, any other major retail outlets and only purchase locally produced products then I will do the same. Malthus

9:05am Mon 23 Jul 12

louderfasterlonger says...

2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.
its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria. In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.
Hi Darener, where do you get the green top delivered from, always loved that stuff.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.[/p][/quote]its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria. In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.[/p][/quote]Hi Darener, where do you get the green top delivered from, always loved that stuff. louderfasterlonger

9:30am Mon 23 Jul 12

MrClaret says...

A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.
The only reason you can't get green top in supermarkets is down to demand for the product, of which there's little. As for its not the same milk comment, that's quite simply laughable.
[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.[/p][/quote]The only reason you can't get green top in supermarkets is down to demand for the product, of which there's little. As for its not the same milk comment, that's quite simply laughable. MrClaret

10:22am Mon 23 Jul 12

A Darener says...

MrClaret wrote:
A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.
The only reason you can't get green top in supermarkets is down to demand for the product, of which there's little. As for its not the same milk comment, that's quite simply laughable.
Sorry but it is illegal to sell it in outlets other than from doorstep milk deliverers or farms direct.
[quote][p][bold]MrClaret[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.[/p][/quote]The only reason you can't get green top in supermarkets is down to demand for the product, of which there's little. As for its not the same milk comment, that's quite simply laughable.[/p][/quote]Sorry but it is illegal to sell it in outlets other than from doorstep milk deliverers or farms direct. A Darener

10:24am Mon 23 Jul 12

A Darener says...

Ps check the website a few letters above.
Ps check the website a few letters above. A Darener

12:19pm Mon 23 Jul 12

verbal discharge says...

A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.
Why is the same milk.
No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.
its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria.
In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.
http://www.telegraph

.co.uk/foodanddrink/

3341324/Untreated-mi

lk-is-in-demand.html



If it was good enough for my parents, grand parents great grandparents etc. it is good enough for me.
Why do you think there are so many people allergic to milk, peanuts etc.....because they were not brought up on them. The human body requires impurities. My mum's philosophy was, we all need a little dirt each day this is very true.
Well as someone with a peanut allergy - had been brought up on them as you suggest I would have been dead by now with anaphylactic shock.

Also my parents and grandparents used to look upon coloured and asian people as inferior - I suppose that you also abide by these rules then as someone who adopts the 'If it's good enough for my parents and grandparents then it's good enough for me' mantra?
[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.[/p][/quote]its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria. In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.[/p][/quote]http://www.telegraph .co.uk/foodanddrink/ 3341324/Untreated-mi lk-is-in-demand.html If it was good enough for my parents, grand parents great grandparents etc. it is good enough for me. Why do you think there are so many people allergic to milk, peanuts etc.....because they were not brought up on them. The human body requires impurities. My mum's philosophy was, we all need a little dirt each day this is very true.[/p][/quote]Well as someone with a peanut allergy - had been brought up on them as you suggest I would have been dead by now with anaphylactic shock. Also my parents and grandparents used to look upon coloured and asian people as inferior - I suppose that you also abide by these rules then as someone who adopts the 'If it's good enough for my parents and grandparents then it's good enough for me' mantra? verbal discharge

12:51pm Mon 23 Jul 12

A Darener says...

verbal discharge wrote:
A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
A Darener wrote:
I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.Why is the same milk.No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria.
In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.http://www.telegraph


.co.uk/foodanddrink/
You have just endorsed my point. Doctors now say that peanut allergies are treatable if started at a young age by giving small doses. Thereby allowing the bodies defence mechanism to begin to function properly. As for your other comment re Asians etc that is a disgusting thing to say. My niece and nephew are half Indian so no I do not follow that logic. My grandparents would have had very little contact with this group. But if they had I am sure they would have been very welcoming to them.
[quote][p][bold]verbal discharge[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: I have never bought milk from a supermarket in sixty years. Coloured water. Support your local milkman. Higher price is irrelevant, quality counts.[/p][/quote]Why is the same milk.[/p][/quote]No it isn't! My milk is green top straight from the cow I.e. untreated, as nature intended. You cannot buy untreated in supermarkets.[/p][/quote]its treated for a reason you dangerous person it kill harmful bacteria. In Scotland the sale of untreated milk is banned altogether.[/p][/quote]http://www.telegraph .co.uk/foodanddrink/ You have just endorsed my point. Doctors now say that peanut allergies are treatable if started at a young age by giving small doses. Thereby allowing the bodies defence mechanism to begin to function properly. As for your other comment re Asians etc that is a disgusting thing to say. My niece and nephew are half Indian so no I do not follow that logic. My grandparents would have had very little contact with this group. But if they had I am sure they would have been very welcoming to them. A Darener

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