What’s This Big Petition About Manx Food Really Asking For?

The island might soon be seeing a lot more three legs on the shelves, as a petition calling for UK supermarkets to properly stock and promote Manx produce is heading straight for Tynwald in December.

The petition, brought forward by John Wannenburgh MHK and backed by the Manx National Farmers’ Union (MNFU), has the support of 1,800 people who signed it over the summer.

The whole thing centres around a pretty eye-watering stat that was revealed earlier this year and had Gef spit out his tea: according to the Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister, only 6% of the food sold on the island is actually Manx.

The petition argues that this is ‘a huge food security risk,’ and most would agree.

While Tesco often gets blamed as the villain in these chats, the big blue supermarket has actually widened its Manx range over the years.

Meanwhile, Co-op and M&S seem to lag behind when it comes to local options.

The petition wants Tynwald to change the law so that ‘all UK supermarkets operating on the Isle of Man must procure, supply and promote Manx produce so that it is available on the shelves, including seasonally available produce’.

It also calls for the government to ‘prioritise using locally produced food for all government operated services, including schools and hospitals’. Preach what you teach springs to mind…

With the island’s new school meals scheme already putting more Manx food on the menu (with varying levels of child enthusiasm), supporters say now’s the time to protect the island’s farmers and its future food supply.

The MNFU were buzzing after their petition officially made the Tynwald agenda, saying: ‘WE DID IT!!!

‘Huge thanks to more than 1800 wonderful people of the Isle of Man that signed our petition… the petition had to jump through some hoops but has been accepted and is on the Register of Business for Tynwald on 9th to 11th December thanks to the hard work of MNFU and the Hon Mr John Wannanburgh MHK.’

They also clarified they’re not trying to force-feed the island: ‘We have not demanded that supermarkets are “forced” to stock local, and we are not advocating for the removal of food choices… However, with Manx produce at only 6% of total food consumption on island, our food security and recognition of the value of local food has diminished almost to the point of no return.’

The petitioners, Sarah Jane Comish, Ean Parsons and Murray Cringle, now just have to wait and see what Tynwald has to say when it hits the December sitting. We’ll be tuning in, will you?