Red Tractor start 2023 with another embarassment😂

[Wesley]

Currently we don’t know who applied the sticker to the packaging, but like others have said the assurance provider who a lot of us pay money into to be part of there scheme which is supposed to be based solely on British food needs to tell us what went wrong and who’s fault it is, as currently it looks like no one gives a sh!t

And the same assurance scheme keep boasting loudly that they have protocols in place and traceability so things like this shouldn’t happen.

Like I’ve said previously its RT’s place to sort it, find out what happened & take appropriate action. Although we all probably know it will be telling them they’re naughty & please don’t do it again. As everyone most likely agrees that they’re a waste of space & unnecessary.

 

[Drillman]

Whichever, it doesn’t matter.
Both plus RT should be reported to Trading Standards at the very minimum!

Correct

 

[SilliamWhale]

You could indeed, but you would be accountable for the mistake, not RT.

So what action should be taken against the Co-op? Suspend all RT produce for sale from all shops until they demonstrated a critical failure point won't happen again? Thats what would happen to a farm.

 

[Two Tone]

Correct

Plus each of them fined, very heavily!

 

[Huno]

Now we are a free trading independent nation what is stopping a farmer from finding an assurance free market for their products.. Faba beans to Egypt for example? Looks like new opportunities for the export market whilst Red Tractor and NFU work with supermarkets to rip all of us off?? Think laterally people and then create a Coop to sell our stuff abroad? Just a positive thought rather than whinging about cartel scum

 

[neilo]

So what action should be taken against the Co-op? Suspend all RT produce for sale from all shops until they demonstrated a critical failure point won't happen again? Thats what would happen to a farm.

Assuming it is even a recent photo, it should be investigated to see what has happened, rather than jumping to conclusions.

We all know that, should it be a packaging error (as is most likely) then the packhouse will be given a ticking off, and maybe even fined, and the matter will be brushed under the carpet.

 

[Huno]

Assuming it is even a recent photo, it should be investigated to see what has happened, rather than jumping to conclusions.

We all know that, should it be a packaging error (as is most likely) then the packhouse will be given a ticking off, and maybe even fined, and the matter will be brushed under the carpet.

Repeated mistakes will result in fines.. one off honest mistakes made even by farmers with mitigation generally result in the soft touch approach..

 

[7610 super q]

As an aside, these videos always amuse me. I know we're supposed to be looking at the loading shovel.........and other things.........
But I can't help casting my eye over the crusty heap of grain " Which is usually covered with a sheet ", complete with mysterious black bits, and bits of chewed up plastic ventilation pipe.
Makes a mockery of what we do in Blighty, it really does.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Now we are a free trading independent nation what is stopping a farmer from finding an assurance free market for their products.. Faba beans to Egypt for example? Looks like new opportunities for the export market whilst Red Tractor and NFU work with supermarkets to rip all of us off?? Think laterally people and then create a Coop to sell our stuff abroad? Just a positive thought rather than whinging about cartel scum

Our problem there is the AIC which exhorts all members/ merchants to purchase assured only grains.

And AIC have a couple of reps on the Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Sector Board so you can see how it goes around...

 

[Steevo]

Repeated mistakes will result in fines.. one off honest mistakes made even by farmers with mitigation generally result in the soft touch approach..

Except when dealing with any government body!

 

[milkloss]

If it’s the packhouse that’s at fault rt should come down on them heavily on behalf of its paying members.

Whilst I may feel sorry for the trouble they're going to be in, that feeling fades when I wonder why they were packing German apples when a previous poster has said there's plenty of British apples available.

 

[MF CI]

I would suggest that trying to say this is somehow RT’s fault does the campaign to change/dismantle RT no favours at all. It just comes across as a bunch of farmers ranting to me.

It would do the cause far more good to put a clear, coherent case as to why it’s not fit for purpose, rather than shaking pitchforks at the door of the CoOp for what is clearly a packaging error somewhere.

Rather than farmers Tom, Rick and Harry individually putting a clear and coherent case against, if only there was a representative body of farmers, a union if you like that could do it on their behalf. That body could then come on here and another places where farmers congregate, explain the situation and get all the pitchforks put away.

 

[andybk]

I know you guys like to have a rant about RT, but surely it’s Co-Op (or their supplier) at fault here, printing the Red Tractor logo on the packaging of a product that clearly isn’t?

I’m sorry if that doesn’t fit with the ‘campaign’ story.

That's not the point, RT don't police who uses their scheme ,If Rt were to withdraw use of the tractor or fine users for missuse that might be one thing ,but we all know supermarkets wouldn't give a toss anyway ,The producer on the other hand gets his use to sell assured suspended for minor breeches which may cost his business dearly .

 

[Steevo]

Whilst I may feel sorry for the trouble they're going to be in, that feeling fades when I wonder why they were packing German apples when a previous poster has said there's plenty of British apples available.

The simplest way to solve it would be as per the RT rules for Cereals (on farm) - non assured produce cannot be processed at the same facility as assured produce.

 

[Drillman]

Whilst I may feel sorry for the trouble they're going to be in, that feeling fades when I wonder why they were packing German apples when a previous poster has said there's plenty of British apples available.

Ah now this is where it gets murky cos is it the logo that’s wrong or the country of origin?

as others have said it might not be rt’s fault but there logo is on the package along with Germany as country of origin so someone somewhere isn’t doing what there supposed to be,

it may be a genuine mistake but it’s been flagged up before on various products, foreign carrots with rt logo on the package was the last one iirc.

and like rt say all, packaging should be proof read by them before use. So it comes back to there door as not been done right.

reference post 95.

 

[JP1]

I understand the frustration and I want reform as much as the next guy, but this is out the control of Red Tractor in this case. I was only expressing my opinion that we need to be careful that we do not give Red Tractor easy scores to come back at farmers, when we try and call them out and it is not directly in their control.......that said there is plenty of mileage in attacking Red Tractor for the additional charges they charge grower packhouses like ourselves for their marque on the packaging, despite we have no control over this.

How much does a grower have to pay for a RT logo on packaging Richard?

 

[SilliamWhale]

The simplest way to solve it would be as per the RT rules for Cereals (on farm) - non assured produce cannot be processed at the same facility as assured produce.

Yes this is a wonderful idea. Totally fair.

 

[Richard Budd]

How much does a grower have to pay for a RT logo on packaging Richard?

So if any of the packaging you pack into has the red tractor marque on it, you have to register for a red tractor licencee and you are then charged prorata depending on how much packaging you use with their marque through the year. You will also be subject to an unannounced audit to do traceability audits and check you can track where the produce has gone, packaging batch etc..., they turned up to ours on 3rd January a 8:00 - Happy New Year Red Tractor!!!! For our fairly small operation we hand over a few thousand every year - on top of our Red Tractor Combinables and Produce sub. The most galling part of all of this, is it is not our choice to put the marque on the packaging, it is the supermarkets - so surley they should pay the priviledge not the grower/producer???

 

[neilo]

Rather than farmers Tom, Rick and Harry individually putting a clear and coherent case against, if only there was a representative body of farmers, a union if you like that could do it on their behalf. That body could then come on here and another places where farmers congregate, explain the situation and get all the pitchforks put away.

Is it any wonder they don't? Whenever representatives of the NFU have engaged on here, they have had nothing but abuse thrown at them, personal and aimed at the organisation.

 

[SilliamWhale]

So if any of the packaging you pack into has the red tractor marque on it, you have to register for a red tractor licencee and you are then charged prorata depending on how much packaging you use with their marque through the year. You will also be subject to an unannounced audit to do traceability audits and check you can track where the produce has gone, packaging batch etc..., they turned up to ours on 3rd January a 8:00 - Happy New Year Red Tractor!!!! For our fairly small operation we hand over a few thousand every year - on top of our Red Tractor Combinables and Produce sub. The most galling part of all of this, is it is not our choice to put the marque on the packaging, it is the supermarkets - so surley they should pay the priviledge not the grower/producer???

Well it comes back to the old drum we have been banging...if only you had effective representation on the matter. You deserve it.

The idea that you should fund somebody elses' brand advantage is a total head scratcher for me.