Fruit farmer is appointed DEFRA minister
Fruit farmer’s son George Eustice has replaced Richard Benyon as a junior DEFRA minister in a government reshuffle.
A former young farmer, he is the son of Paul and Adele Eustice, of Trevaskis Fruit Farm, near Connor Downs.
Mr Eustice worked on the family fruit farm for nine years before being elected at the 2013 general election as the Tory MP for Camborne and Redruth, Cornwall.
An outspoken critic of big retailers who exploit farmers, Mr Eustice says he “experienced first-hand some of the sharp practices” when the family business supplied strawberries to supermarkets.
“They ranged from forcing suppliers to use third party contractors, for things such as packaging and haulage, who would then charge suppliers more than the market rate.”
Mr Eustice told MPs during a House of Commons debate in November 2012 he had also experienced the retrospective clawing back of costs resulting from wastage on the shelf.
And he supported the Bill that led to the appointment of Christine Tacon as Britain’s first supermarket adjudicator.
“Supermarkets would claw back not just what they paid, but the margin that they expected from a product,” Mr Eustice told his fellow MPs.
“Growers were frequently forced to participate, often unwillingly, in supermarket promotions, and were expected to sell their produce for below the market rate.”
In many instances, supermarkets rejected stock when they had simply made an error in orders – or when wet weather meant they were reluctant to accept orders they had placed.
As a junior DEFRA minister, Mr Eustice is expected to take responsibility for fisheries, the natural environment, water and rural affairs.
He was previously a member of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee – a role he will now relinquish.
Mr Benyon was leading a trade mission in Brazil when the reshuffle was confirmed.
He tweeted: “On back benches! 3 and half really fun years with much achieved. Really appreciate time working with outstanding Ministers and Officials.” Reading. As Conservatives, we believe in free and fair markets, but we rigorously oppose the abuse of dominant market power, which is why the Bill is essential.
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