Coronavirus: Food producers ‘hidden heroes’ of pandemic

Defra secretary George Eustice has thanked British farmers who are working hard to produce food during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter published on Thursday 14 January, Mr Eustice praised the efforts of all the people working in food and supply chains who “continue to feed the nation under such difficult circumstances”.

See also: So you want to… sell food and drink to the public?

He said: “I know it has been a difficult 12 months, and many of you will have had a tough Christmas period, unable to see your family and friends.

“Some of you, tragically, may also have lost loved ones or colleagues.

“For this reason, and at a critical time for our country, it is more important than ever that we all continue to play our part to ensure those working in roles throughout the entire food and drink supply chain, from farm to fork, feel safe.”

Mr Eustice thanked the “vast majority of the public” for following social distancing rules and wearing masks. But he said it was “entirely unacceptable” that some were not following the rules.

‘Stay Covid safe’

“Food businesses have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure workplaces are as Covid secure and as safe as possible, from managing capacity in shops, to encouraging customers to comply with regulations and guidance to keep us all safe,” he said.

“In the past few days, supermarkets have stepped up again, building on previous work to further tighten their measures.

“I am enormously proud of the work that you have done, and I want to thank each and every one of you. You have been, and continue to be, the hidden heroes of this pandemic.”

Last year, Farmers Weekly ran the #FeedTheNation awareness campaign to show the public how British farmers are working tirelessly to produce the food we all need to live and stay healthy.