Cheap food hurts farms, says Prince

The Prince of Wales spoke yesterday of the damage being done to the British countryside by a ready supply of cheap food as he opened this year's Royal Show.

He said farmers had to work with supermarkets if farming was to have a future.

"It is utterly incredible to me that farming – the basic industry of mankind – can be in such a state of crisis as it is today. The consumer needs to be made more aware that the seemingly endless desire for convenience and the lowest price has a direct impact, like it or not, on the producer.

"There is a real cost involved in cheap food to the countryside, to those who live and work there and to animal welfare. Of course, I understand only too well that price matters a great deal for many families in this country."

Thousands of people were expected at Britain's premier agriculture show, held at the Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, for four days of exhibitions showing that British farming is "back in business" after last year's foot-and-mouth crisis.

Prince Charles paid tribute to the work of all those involved in the "horrors" of 2001.

"They were dark days for so many farmers, their families and many more in the wider community," he told exhibitors and visitors. The focus of his speech was the need to look to the future of British farming.

After opening the Royal Show, he toured the site, meeting exhibitors and seeing different types of cattle. He visited the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the Organic Food and Farming Centre.

His final engagement was to present the Royal Agricultural Society of England awards.

The Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners was given to Lord Middleton in recognition of his service to husbandry on his 12,500 acre Yorkshire High Wolds estate, near Malton, North Yorkshire. The Prince also gave long-service awards to 11 agricultural employees with more than 40 years' continuous service to one farm.