A NEW marketing group made up of five of the Island’s biggest Jersey Royal potato growers was accused of being ‘a single monopolistic and exclusive’ group in the States on Tuesday.
Senator Mike Vibert made the accusation during questions about the effect the new merged group would have on smaller growers who would be excluded.
Senator Vibert said that the Economic Development Committee directed considerable public funds to allow growers to get their products to market.And Deputy Guy de Faye predicted that 20 smaller growers could go out of business in the next couple of years as a result of the setting up of the new group.However, Economic Development president Deputy Gerald Voisin said it was possible that the new scheme might be referred for investigation as a restrictive practice under the proposed new Competition Law.Deputy Voisin said he had spoken to a grower about the possibility of another merger of a different group of growers to allow them to get their potatoes to market in the UK.A number of States Members urged that a review be carried out of the States subsidies to the growing industry, in particular to the group of five who have formed the new marketing group.
Article posted on 18th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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