OF&G :: The blog

Another show, another battle through the quagmire. These pictures (taken by Chief Exec, Richard) illustrate the trials of getting into the ground for the Royal Welsh Show.

After queuing for two-and-a-half hours to get the assistance of one of the two tractors assigned to “drag ‘em in” duty he was finally hauled across the mire to leave his car in the bog and get on with the day’s business.

The good news is that the show itself has been viewed by the OF&G team as the great spectacle they have become used to. Compare this to dire reports from the Royal, at Stoneleigh (for now), and you have to think that there are lessons to be learned from events such as the Royal Welsh!

Richard reports that despite the all pervasive mud the atmosphere was great and the weather made for a “Dunkirk spirit” in the showground.

And there’s praise to be heaped on Organic Centre Wales, and particularly its Carolyn Wacher, for putting on a great organic marquee, of which OF&G was proud to be a part.

Are you taking notes RASE?

It seems too much choice could be bad for us when it comes to the weekly shop.

Apparently those 15 varieties of baked beans can lead to some very negative psychological effects that we could, no doubt do without.

This is according to Professor Barry Schwartz, a psychologist from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania who has penned The Paradox of Choice. He told The Times:

“There is vastly too much choice in the modern world and we are paying an enormous price for it. It makes us feel helpless, mentally paralysed and profoundly dissatisfied.”

If this is true, one would hope that the addition in recent years of a dizzying array of organic lines to this already challenging selection isn’t serving to make the problem worse. Not sure how that would fit into the organic ethos!

Click here for the full story…

Another year and another Royal Show that was noted more for its downsides than any positive promotion of UK agriculture.

It was wellies all round for those who wanted to get about and see a bit of what was on offer - until the plug was finally pulled a day early and everyone sent home.

We hear mumblings today (from those who might otherwise have been at Stoneleigh themselves) that the show still wasn’t what it once was, with big names missing - not to mention the crowds.

Many farming, food and related businesses will no doubt be mulling over whether to invest the time, money and energy in next year’s show, which could lead to a downward spiral which would be sad to see.

All that said, our certification officers were pleased to have the chance to meet with existing and potential licensees who are, all to often, just a voice on the telephone to them normally.

Today’s photo credit goes to Development Officer, Steven Jacobs.