Key facts
- Kaleb Cooper believes British consumers are largely unconcerned about the price of milk.
- He advocates for shoppers to purchase more locally-produced goods.
- Cooper highlighted that farmers often face financial pressure due to intermediaries in the supply chain.
- He suggested that a small increase in milk prices, if passed directly to farmers, would be greatly appreciated.
- Recent data shows milk prices have risen 7.2% year-on-year, despite overall food inflation slowing.
Kaleb Cooper, star of Clarkson's Farm, has stated that the British public does not pay close attention to the price of milk and urged consumers to support local producers. Cooper explained that intermediaries in the supply chain often reduce farmer profits, leaving them to absorb rising costs.
Speaking at the launch of an advert for Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone, Cooper suggested that a small increase in milk prices, such as 10p per litre, would be greatly beneficial to farmers and likely go unnoticed by the general public. He noted that farmers often prioritize their animals, sometimes even more than their families, due to their deep connection to their work.
Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics indicated that overall inflation stood at 2.8% in the twelve months to May. While food and non-alcoholic drinks prices rose by 2.2%, a slowdown from the previous month, milk prices saw a significant increase of 7.2% compared to the previous year.
Cooper also emphasized the critical role of farming co-operatives in ensuring fair prices for farmers and allowing them to enjoy the produce they grow. He described farming as a way of life rather than merely a job.