“When marketing your produce, it only takes a few little things to really make a difference. Putting the bird in a presentation box is a good start, then think about including cooking instruction leaflets and perhaps a pop-up thermometer. But most importantly, producers really need to be selling the fact that their turkeys are local.”

Latest figures collected by the NFU suggest that the number of turkeys heading for the wholesale market appears to be increasing and that the move towards free range birds continues but the organic market is still suffering from reduced demand. Total turkey sales, whether whole or as cuts, expanded by volume and value year on year. Turkey is seen as good value, low fat and is an affordable source of protein. NFU Cymru is however encouraging producers to advertise the local nature of their product in order to compete.

Clare Morgan, NFU Cymru Poultry Group Chairman said, “We need to champion what we produce and we therefore have to market our end products more effectively. Our poultry products are reared on traditional local farms where achieving high levels of animal health and welfare standards is extremely important to us as Welsh producers. As Christmas approaches, I really encourage the general public to buy Welsh turkeys from local farms to support producers throughout the whole of Wales.”

NFU Cymru members are encouraged to use the NFU turkey website: www.ukturkeys.co.uk which provides turkey producers with a whole host of promotional and packaging materials including boxes, gift tags and thermometers. Any NFU Cymru member wishing to advertise local produce can do so by contacting the NFU Cymru office on: 01982 554200 and they will feature under the Welsh local producers section of the NFU online website.