Awwww. Apparently, it would be “unkind” and “insensitive” to UK farmers to promote New Zealand produce during their foot and mouth crises.
Let’s hear the sympathy for the English farmer, that noble breed. We might reflect on the factory-farming conditions in the UK that have resulted in BSE, but that would be unkind. We could discuss how New Zealand farmers are shut out of lucrative international markets by subsidised European agricultural products being dumped into those markets, but that would be unfair. We could point to the wall of import restrictions that mean, as things stand, British consumers will be without meat rather than allowing a single container more of New Zealand produce to enter Europe, by that would be insensitive.
No, instead we should think about all the things our wonderful friends in Europe have done for our agricultural industry, and be nice to them by not suggesting to British consumers that they could get more ethically farmed, better quality produce.
