Watercress Farmers Fight for EU Protection

The vital ingredient for growing watercress is, of course, water – mineral rich flowing water from which the peppery salad leaf takes its many nutrients.  So important is this traditional growing method that British watercress farmers have asked the EU to give them protected food status, which would ensure that land grown cress cannot be sold as the “real thing”.

The NFU Watercress Growers’ Association have now applied to the EU for “Traditional Speciality Guaranteed” protected status of their growing methods.

To raise awareness of this issue Mustard Communications held a photocall and press briefing on a historic watercress farm in Alresford, Hampshire - the capital of watercress farming. Coverage was secured in The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Guardian, Meridian TV, in 12 radio interviews including BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours, the trade press and many regional newspapers.

For more information visit www.watercress.co.uk.