TWO Cumbrian businesses were among those organisations who have shown support for the region's farmers.

Food retailer Booths was the first supermarket to publicly support the National Farmers Union (NFU) food standards petition, which led to Government establishing a Food and Agriculture Trade Commission.

They were followed by infant formula brand Kendamil, which is the flagship brand of Kendal Nutricare, a family business employing 120 local people. The company work with over 220 local Red Tractor assured family farms across the North West.

In letter to Booths customers, Chairman Edwin J Booth CBE and Chief Operating Officer Nigel Murray wrote: “We are committed to supporting not just British producers, but local producers based in the four counties we serve.

Booths have branches in Kendal, Keswick, Kirkby Lonsdale Milnthorpe, Penrith, Ulverston and Windermere.“Booths source milk from regional family owned dairies and an abundance of seasonal fruit and vegetables from local producers. We sell regional specialities like Herdwick and Salt Marsh lamb, distinctively different produce from landscapes close to home," they said.

Ross McMahon, CEO of Kendal Nutricare, stated: “As a UK export champion, we are proud to fly the flag internationally for British dairy excellence.Yet here in the UK, 99 percent of infant formula consumed is made by foreign companies using foreign milk. We believe in our local farms and communities, and strive for a more sustainable, traceable, and healthy infant milk utilising Great British milk and food safety standards for our nation’s children."

NFU North West Regional Director, David Hall, appeared on BBC North West Tonight alongside NFU Cumbrian Farming Ambassador Richard Pedley to thank both businesses for their support in getting the NFU petition over the one million signatory landmark. Mr Hall said: “It’s great to see a North West food retailer and processor both making a stand on this issue. Booths and Kendamil work closely with hundreds of farmers in the region and have always been huge supporters of the British farming industry so it’s fantastic to see a commitment to maintain and uphold the high standards that British farmers and growers adhere to.

“Other retailers and those in the hospitality and out-of-home market, such as restaurants and takeaways, face a similar choice; to confirm or reiterate their support for our food values and demonstrate to government that the public will not accept food produced to standards illegal to be produced here.”