Farmers Need Help
А group of UK farmers started a campaign (运动) asking large supermarkets to stop "farmwashing", which means using labels (标签) to make shoppers think the food is from small UK farms. The campaign, called Farmers Against Farmwashing, wants UK supermarkets to supports local farmers.
The farmers said that supermarkets are using farm-style names to make the shoppers think that the food is from the UK farms. But in fact, they are from large farms outside UK. In July, a survey (调查) of 202 farmers showed that 61% were worried and they might give up their farms in 18 months because they were not making enough money. Only 25% of them believed that supermarkets would help them. Still others worried that if they spoke out their worries, the local supermarket would not do business with them.
★ . А survey of supermarket shoppers showed that 74% of them wanted honesty about where their food was coming from. 67% of them felt angry when they found out that supermarkets can use the word "farm" on the food even if it doesn't come from one.
To start the campaign, the farmers sent an open letter to the bosses of some UK supermarkets. The letter was signed (签名) by more than 100 people. The farmers also asked the shoppers to choose the food to see if they are supporting the local farms.
Guy Watson, who is leading the campaign, said farmers already had problems of changeable weather and rising costs (money that farmers put into growing and making food), they really need help. He said, "it's time for supermarkets and people to listen."