farmers gave a mixed reaction to Tesco's pledge to encourage organic farming.
Tesco has created a working group to help meet its target of increasing organic sales to £1 billion by 2006. The move has been welcomed by the NFU, which has been holding discussions with the firm on how to increase the amount of British organic products on supermarket shelves.
John Davenport, an organic farmer and wholesaler from Little Marcle, said: "A commitment to buy British is always good."
However, Ray Hunter, a retired farmer from Putley, who is on the NFU's organic working group for the West Midlands, was more cautious. He said: "If Tesco wishes to develop the production business of UK organic produce then all they have to do is to ensure that they buy it at a price which ensures the economic sustainability of the production business."
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