Following a sell-out performance of Fauré’s Requiem in May, accompanied by Concordia Strings and David Grierson, the Gillingham Singers return this month with something truly special – the world première of Stars, by Dorset-based composer Stephen Deutsch.
Stephen Deutsch
The concert takes place at St James’ Church, Shaftesbury, on Saturday 22nd November at 7.30pm, and will also feature music by Bob Chilcott, Philip Stopford and others. Stephen Deutsch, originally from the USA, has lived in Dorset for more than 45 years. Educated at Juilliard and a former professor of post-production at Bournemouth University, his music has been performed by the Medici Quartet, the Gaudier Ensemble and the London Mozart Players, among others. Stars was developed through conversations with Richard Nye, the choir’s director, the two men discovering a shared love for combining voice and electronics. ‘It is a piece which comprises many elements: spoken text, electronic sounds, instrumental sounds and location sounds,’ says Stephen. ‘It is about the wonder of the heavens.’ Stephen will introduce the piece on the night, offering a rare insight into a composer’s process before its first live performance. Tickets are £10 in advance (from Novia, Gillingham High St, or via Carole Brooks on 07572 786416 – cash only) or £12 on the door, and include a glass of wine or soft drink.
It’s been a fast-paced comeback for Blandford Men’s Hockey Club. Once it was a thriving side with three teams and a strong presence in the southern leagues, but the men’s division folded completely around eight years ago – a victim of dwindling numbers and severe lack of local facilities.
But over the last 14 months, a handful of determined players have turned the tide, says club captain Paul Cross: ‘Back when I was at the Blandford school, hockey was really pushed – teachers played too. But when the school had the chance to put in a hockey pitch, they chose a 4G pitch that’s only for football … so there’s now no capacity for hockey there at all.’ After years playing for nearby Gillingham – a club that formed when Blandford began to decline – a group of local players began to wonder if they could bring Blandford men’s hockey back. ‘It started in a chance meeting – four of us from Blandford turned up at a masters event in Taunton, and we just wondered why there wasn’t a team in Blandford anymore?’
The idea bubbled away until a couple of follow-up chats at Parkrun sealed the deal. Just over a year ago, Blandford & Sturminster Hockey Club added to its successful women’s teams by reforming the men’s section. They’d initially hoped to build a support team around junior players. ‘We thought if we could find four or five experienced players, we could support the juniors – but actually none of the juniors could play Saturdays. So it ended up going full throttle.’ The club now fields three senior teams – two women’s and one men’s – playing in the South Central league. The men’s team won their first five matches without conceding a goal. By the end of their first season, they’d finished second in the league – and, thanks to a quirk in the structure, were awarded a double promotion. ‘We’ve now got players coming back from other clubs – three have come from Wimborne, they all live locally, and more are thinking about it. The more successful we are, the more enticing the project becomes.’
All about the crumble The men’s team now has a pool of 36 players, with around 18 available most weeks, and at time of writing is sitting second in their Division 5 (south) league. They’ve just started a Sunday development league for juniors and rotational squad members too – a chance to build skills for players who will likely move into the second team next season. ‘We’re officially part of Bryanston and Clayesmore’s hockey strategy now, which is huge for us,’ Paul says. ‘It means school players will start being available on Saturdays, and we can begin creating a true pathway.’ Paul is quick to point out that it’s not just about the top squad. ‘We’ve always had a mix of abilities – players who’ve never played hockey before alongside experienced ones. The club’s success is down to the community spirit,’ he says. ‘It’s about building something local and welcoming. ‘You don’t have to be an elite athlete to join in – just committed and willing to learn.’ Balndford & Sturminster’s women’s side also continues to thrive – winning their league last season, and currently top of the Division 3 league this year too.
‘And the teas back at the White Horse are the envy of the league,’ says Paul. ‘Genuinely. One club wrote more about the apple crumble than about the game …’ The club trains on Thursday nights at Bryanston, plays Saturday fixtures at Clayesmore, and welcomes new faces. Paul says: ‘If you want to try something new, be healthier, or just feel like you belong – we’d love to hear from you.’
As the Tizzard yard gears up for winter, Chris Wald reports strong early form – and barn manager Jemma Sargent says there’s nowhere she’d rather be
Hartington won the Stephex Trucks UK Castletown Handicap Hurdle in good style for Brendan Powell and Joe Tizzard
It’s been a good start to the winter campaign,’ says Chris Wald. ‘We’re back into the thick of it now, and the horses have all come out of their runs well. We’ve had plenty out; not a huge number of winners yet, but lots finishing in the top three. And that’s what you want to see: horses running well and progressing. The team’s working flat out now – it’s a six-day week at this time of year, and everyone’s really stepped up. ‘Triple Trade ran a blinder at Ascot in the London Gold Cup. He was in front for a long way, got collared at the last, and finished second – but it was a massive run for him, especially first time out this season. ‘Elixir De Nutz was back at Cheltenham – he’s been a real stalwart for the yard. He’s a big, strong, tough horse, and he went up against younger, fresher ones but still finished third in a Grade 2. He’s still showing the spark. ‘We’ve been schooling lots of young horses over fences, getting them ready for novice chases. That transition is always exciting – you learn a lot about their scope and balance. ‘JPR One ran in the Haldon Gold Cup and put in a great performance to come second. That’s a strong result for him at this stage, and we’re hoping to build on that in his next run. ‘All being well, Fiddlerontheroof is aiming for the Coral Gold Cup (formerly the Hennessy) – a massive race. He had a pipe-opener at Aintree to blow away the cobwebs – it didn’t quite go to plan, but he’ll come on a lot for it.’
Meet Jemma Sargent After Chris had given me the latest on the horses, he headed off to his next job. I stayed behind to talk to one of the people who keep the whole yard running – barn manager Jemma Sargent told me all about her job. ‘I’m the barn manager – it’s basically the head girl role,’ she says. ‘I ride out in the mornings, then do all the medical checks in the evenings – I check legs, make sure all the horses are OK, do whatever antibiotics need to be done … I help run the yard alongside Chris and Joe. Predominantly I look after the horses’ health – that’s my main job.’ Jemma’s been with the Tizzards for almost ten years, and her roots in racing run deep. ‘I started here when I was still at school, just riding out. Then during college, I kept coming back. Joe always said if I wanted a job, there’d be one here – I took him up on it, and I’ve worked my way up.’ She’s local – just five minutes away in Milborne Wick – and racing is in the family. Her uncle is former flat jockey Tim Sprake, and cousins Charlie and Catherine Sprake both ride point-to-points. ‘Catherine started riding out here when she was 13. This’ll be her first season pointing.’ Having strated at the bottom, Jemma now helps with everything from ordering feed to running the diary when Chris is away racing. But she rides every day: ‘Allen! Eldorado Allen is my number one. I’ve ridden him pretty much every day since he came. I just … got him, straight away. He’s got such a personality – he’s a brilliant old boy. It’s probably his last season now. He’s 11, and I don’t feel the handicapper is very kind to him. I know he’s highly rated, but he’s not the biggest of horses. When you’re against horses carrying two stone less than you, it’s hard to be competitive. But he still wants to do it.’
Jemma also rides Sunset Marquesa and Lord of Thunder, and goes racing when she can – though, like many of the yard’s senior staff, she’s often needed back at the yard. ‘I love going, especially with my favourites. I’ve been lucky to get to big meetings like Cheltenham and Aintree. That’s a real privilege.’ But even at the big races, Jemma doesn’t bet: ’If I ever do, it’s two pounds. Maximum! I’d rather keep my money in my pocket. The races are exciting to watch – I don’t need a bet to love watching the horses run.’ Her hours are long and odd – quarter to seven until one, then back again from three to five, longer if the vet is in. But would she swap it? ‘Not a chance. I love this job. Summer’s chilled, and winter is go, go, go. It’s brilliant. ‘You’re here so much it becomes your life. But we’ve got a great team, and Joe and Chris are great to work with. I wouldn’t still be here nearly ten years later if I didn’t love it.’
Hello BV – long-time reader, first-time Grumbler here. I’m actually an avid fan of the excellent Dorset Insider, being a long-time parish councillor myself: turns out, jealousy is a powerful motivator. So I thought I’d submit a collective guest moan, if I may, on behalf of the parishioners I’ve just spent a lovely hour with, as we thoroughly enjoyed muttering into our milky teas in the village hall. We’d like to discuss technology. Not the sort that puts a man on the moon, just the kind that tries – and occasionally fails – to sell us a pint of milk and thirty minutes’ parking. First in our firing line is the supermarket self-checkout. It looks helpful enough, smiling at you with its little blue light – until you dare to move a turnip. Suddenly it’s “unexpected item in bagging area” and you’re a shoplifter. A teenage assistant saunters over, scans their magic card, and mutters “just put it through as carrots” while you die a little inside. I don’t want to romanticise the past, but at least the old checkout lady never shouted “authorisation needed” because I’d dared to bring my own bag.
Poor dog Next up was the parking apps. Oh, the parking apps. One of our little grumpy huddle swears he once spent longer downloading, registering, verifying, confirming and authorising than he did actually parked. By the time he’d remembered the password – which the app probably insisted must include a haiku and a rune – the car park timer had expired. And just when you think you’re safe at home, your neighbour’s doorbell camera pings them because you’ve dared to deliver back their mis-delivered Amazon parcel. Within minutes, the village WhatsApp group lights up like a Christmas tree. “Does anyone know this suspicious man in a wax jacket?” Yes, it’s me. Again. The digital world has crept into parish life like ivy through an old wall. Lost dog? It’s online before the poor thing’s noticed he’s the wrong side of the fence. Rumour of a new planning application? Someone’s already uploaded the council map, pinned a screenshot of the salient points, and started a 58-comment thread about traffic chaos. Half the village is now on first-name terms thanks to the group chat – the other half have muted it permanently.
For the best Don’t get me wrong: I’m no Luddite. I’m a BV reader after all. I deal with bills with my phone, and always pay contactless – my wallet hasn’t left my bedside table for a few years now (this was a controversial side quest in our huddle: sorry, but I really don’t miss the bank). I do grocery shopping online, and I thoroughly enjoy a good spreadsheet. I just can’t shake the feeling that somewhere along the line, convenience is quietly turning into surveillance. Still, perhaps it’s for the best. At least when the self-checkout accuses me of theft, the doorbell camera will have it on film, the parking app will log my alibi, and the WhatsApp group will have a full transcript before I get home. Efficiency, they call it. I call it Dorset, 2025 – where even your grumbling is probably being published online …
**The Grumbler – the open opinion column in The BV. It’s a space for anyone to share their thoughts freely. While the editor will need to know the identity of contributors, all pieces will be published anonymously. With just a few basic guidelines to ensure legality, safety and respect, this is an open forum for honest and unfiltered views. Got something you need to get off your chest? Send it to [email protected]. The Grumbler column is here for you: go on, say it. We dare you.**
From Ballindenisk’s bold fences to Bovington’s ribbons, Team Rimmer’s Basil, Max, Ippo and Jimmy gave Jess their best year yet
Ippo and Jess training at home. All images: Jess Rimmer
It’s the end of the season! When I tell you March felt like yesterday … September saw us make a very exciting trip to Ireland with Basil (The Spice Merchant) to compete at Ballindenisk in the 4L. Ordinarily we would aim for the prestigious Blenheim Palace for our September 4L, but this year it hosted the FEI Senior European Eventing Championships – a showcase of the very best of the sport. GB senior team selection remains the stuff of dreams for Team Rimmer, so off to Ballindenisk we headed – and wow, what an adventure! Irish eventing has a reputation for being relaxed, fun and slightly chaotic – I think we can safely say Ballindenisk lived up to every expectation and more with its friendly, family-run team, a brilliant cross country track and an underground bar with a surplus of wine. We worked hard, played hard and learned a huge amount.
formidable fences at Ballindenisk
A little excitement crept into our dressage test, and the cross country track was unlike anything I’ve seen before. It was the biggest challenge Basil and I have faced together by far … big, bold and seriously rewarding of positive riding – which (in theory) suited us just fine. I felt very lucky to be sitting behind such brave, genuine ears – Basil read and understood every question with those ears pricked, jumping one of only 17 clears from 33 starters. Good boy Basil! Saturday night brought the famous Ballindenisk’s Got Talent show in that underground bar. Rest assured I won’t be hanging up my boots to pursue a singing career any time soon. We celebrated our cross-country in true Irish style before a bright, early trot-up under the September sun. Despite his efforts on the Irish terrain the previous day, Basil trotted up with a spring in his step and showjumped superbly. I was disappointed to have let him down at fence 3, costing us a double clear, but it’s easy to forget that nine months ago I’d never even sat on Basil! To finish top 20 at this level, with such a new partnership, really is the stuff of dreams. It’s a huge credit to Basil, his owners and our incredible team at home.
Ippo warming up bright and early at Bicton
Ippo and Jess training at home
Autumn campaign Although Ballindenisk was our “big” autumn aim, our season was far from over. While Basil enjoyed some well-earned downtime, Jimmy, Max and Ippo still had work to do, with a busy run of autumn events on the horizon. And boy, did they deliver! Max won his Novice section at our local event, Bovington, with Ippo close behind in fourth. At Swalcliffe, Ippo improved again for third and Max – not to be outdone – finished second. Jimmy’s feeling properly established at Novice now: although I haven’t let the handbrake off enough to let him win another red ribbon, he finished eighth at Swalcliffe with another consistent run.
Matchy-matchy mother-daughter day for Jess and Jo Rimmer
We finished our season at one of my favourite internationals, Bicton. Being one of our relatively local events (and home to my first ever BE win), Bicton will always be a special way to end the year. To finish with two horses in the top five of the 2L was the icing on the 2025 cake. Ippo was just superb – finishing on his dressage score of 31 to come second, my best three-day result yet. Max wasn’t far behind, also finishing on his dressage score for fifth. Seeing both in the final-day prizegiving was something special. Such a credit to these two fabulous horses. Jimmy competed in the 2S, where I yet again wouldn’t take the handbrake off (sorry, Jimmy!) – he’s still a little too gangly for Bicton’s hills. Even so, he finished just outside the top 20 in a big section – and although he wasn’t in the ribbons I couldn’t be more pleased with how easy he made it all feel.
Max with Owners Peter, Sue, Becky and Dan Andrews and friend Liv celebrating our Bovington win
He is a real horse for the future … we just have to wait for his body to catch up with his brain! Whoops, a bit of a lengthy update from our autumn campaign, sorry! And I’m only brushing the surface. You can imagine the mammoth effort behind the scenes. I couldn’t be more grateful to our owners, sponsors and the incredible home team who work tirelessly (and often unseen) to keep the wheels – and hooves – turning. Time now for a well-earned break for both horses and humans, before regrouping for what’s shaping up to be an exciting 2026 (Oh, and Ballindenisk – can we come back, please?).
Dorset residents are being invited to try their hand at balancing the county’s books through a new online simulator launched by Dorset Council this week. The interactive tool, available until 2nd December, lets users adjust spending across key services – from social care and road maintenance to libraries, housing and waste collection – to see how difficult it is to meet the council’s £479 million budget.
Screenshot
Councillor Simon Clifford, cabinet member for finance and capital strategy, said: ‘Setting a balanced budget is one of the most difficult tasks we face as councillors. Dorset’s older population means we have higher demand for adult social care, and our rural geography adds cost to delivering services. This simulator gives residents a chance to see the reality behind the headlines – it’s all about trade-offs and choices, listening to residents about what they want and need.’ The simulator lays out the challenge starkly. Users are told the council must reduce spending by £35 million to balance its books. Every reduction brings visible consequences – from slower pothole repairs to less support for vulnerable children, from increased flooding risks to reduced library hours. Councillor Nick Ireland, leader of the Council, said: ‘As with many councils, we are under growing financial pressure, with adult and children’s social care services facing the greatest challenges. But as a rural authority we have also been chronically underfunded by government for years. This means we are far more reliant on raising our income from council tax than urban councils.’ The simulator, he added, is intended to open up that discussion: ‘This not only gives residents the chance to explore the reality of budget-setting but also helps us understand what matters most.’ However, not everyone is convinced. One resident who tried the tool got in touch with The BV to say it feels ‘weighted to make you sympathise with the council, rather than understand the broader picture’. The simulator highlights the negative consequences of every cut – fewer pothole repairs, reduced social care, slower flood maintenance – but offers no sense of how investment or efficiency changes might lead to future savings. ‘It could have been a fascinating exercise in transparency,’ they said. ‘Instead it feels like a nudge to throw up your hands and say “poor council, what a tough job they have”. Real decision-making is about innovation and nuance as well as reduction – not just choosing what to chop.’ The council stresses that this is not a formal consultation or a vote, but an engagement exercise designed to gauge public priorities. The results, it says, will inform future decisions as councillors prepare the 2026–27 budget.
Leweston School in Sherborne has marked its 135th anniversary by announcing a new strategic alliance with Concept Education and the Catholic Schools’ Trust, a move intended to secure the school’s long-term stability and strengthen its position within the independent Catholic sector.
Founded in 1891, the co-educational school now educates around 550 pupils across its nursery, preparatory, senior and sixth form phases. It will become the first school to join the partnership, which is being developed by Concept Education, a group formed by former independent school headteachers and senior education leaders. Their stated aim is to ‘safeguard independent education for the next generation’, particularly by supporting affordable, well-run Catholic schools. Leweston says this aligns closely with its own strategic direction at a time when many independent schools are navigating financial pressures and policy uncertainty.
Announcing the move, Chair of Governors Ian Lucas said the agreement reflects a pivotal moment for the school. ‘This is an important milestone in our history,’ he said. ‘The partnership with Concept Education marks an exciting new chapter for Leweston enabling the school to build on its reputation for personalised, values-led education while expanding the opportunities available to current and future students. The collaboration will bring additional expertise and investment, ensuring Leweston continues to thrive in a rapidly evolving educational landscape. This allows us to grow while staying true to our values and mission to nurture confident, capable, and compassionate young people.’
Concept Education’s Chief Executive, Hugh Dickinson, emphasised that Leweston’s existing strengths made it a natural starting point for the organisation’s work. ‘Leweston is already a well-established, high-performing school. Our role is twofold: to maintain the school’s excellence and to break new ground. We know that the success of a school depends on the trust of its parents, their children and the staff. We are excited and privileged to be asked to carry on the outstanding work of the current governors and working to strengthen Leweston’s reputation as a unique, caring and high-achieving environment.’
Further detail on how the partnership will operate in practice has not yet been released, but both parties describe the agreement as a foundation for future development rather than a change to Leweston’s core identity.
A recent council get-together to discuss devolution tempted me out the house – it’s a hot topic just now. But what exactly is the deal with ‘super councils’ and devolution? Is it a Rayner pipe-dream? Do we need more mayors? And what’s the cost?
Devolution Rules It’s fairly common knowledge that, following the Labour Government directive to form super councils, Dorset Council is set to merge with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Somerset and Wiltshire for strategic discussions. Already that’s cause for concern – more mayors, and the risk of rural voices drowned out by the conurbations. Less well known is the idea of ‘double devolution’, where services run by a local authority can be passed to town and parish councils. Could they actually do a better job? And what would we (as parish councillors) even want to take on? As I sat listening to the superb work done by Yeovil Town Council in taking on big projects from Somerset Council, I was initially inspired. It’s no mean feat to take over a country park, recreation ground or entertainment services … and it looks as though the town council has made a cracking job of it. They did, however, have to increase the precept – yet few residents complained, perhaps because they could actually see results.
What to devolve? That same call to raise precepts echoed throughout the meeting. Dorset Council was clear: anyone taking on services must also pay to maintain them. The list of potential hand-offs included public toilets, playgrounds, recreation areas and even community transport. There was more crowing about the need to keep people healthy in communities (more of that later). Some of the town councillors looked quite smug. But for many small parishes – mine included – the question is what exactly is there to devolve? We have no public loos or car parks, and we already manage the recreation field. I’ve no plans to go full Rod Stewart and start filling potholes, though I might be partial to buying a few signs which Highways won’t. And I can’t see myself driving a gritter any time soon. Some things are best left to the professionals. However, in some villages there are so many things that have not been maintained for years that it would be like opening Pandora’s Box.
Who does the work? Then there’s another issue around the volunteers, who would no doubt be called upon to deal with all the devolved services as ‘free labour’. Our parish’s volunteer linesmen and grass cutters are in their eighties. It’s not just an issue about stuff the council wants to offload onto parishes, it’s about future plans for when current volunteers are having to call it a day. And it’s also about sharing the workload. Young people don’t generally come forward to help out with village jobs – it may be time for a rethink on how we make volunteering more attractive. I imagine Dorset Council has a massive list of services which they would be happy to pass on to unsuspecting parishes. Ditches that have not been cleared in living memory, leaky toilet blocks, odd bits of land, and dodgy playgrounds created by developers all spring to mind. After being told how Dorset’s aspiration to keep us healthy was paramount, a cholesterol-busting lunch awaited in the bar: chips, sausages, quiche, brie in breadcrumbs … all designed to cause havoc with your coronary arteries. Councillors do love their chips though, and over lunch I mulled things over.
Parish clusters What I’d really like to do is turn the devolution discussion on its head and ignore the fire sale from Dorset Council – because there is very little that interests me there. Everyone keeps asking where the infrastructure is for all these new houses. “It will follow,” we’re told. But it isn’t following. If we want decent infrastructure, we have to fight for it. Maybe now is the time for clusters of parishes to get together and design a service that has never existed, but should. A community bus that runs to local hospitals and operates at weekends. Or a contracted verge-cutting service that operates more than twice a year? Could we work with farmers to get better gritting route coverage? Like Yeovil, we’d need to raise the precept to pay for them – but at least we’d be funding things people actually NEED and USE. It could even mean employing local people to deliver services across several parishes. While devolution got me thinking, it’s more about what is not being said than what is being expressed right now. Devolution, it turns out, isn’t just about what councils hand down. It’s about what communities choose to build. Before we inherit anything, parish councils need the freedom – and the confidence – to design the services that truly serve them.
**The Dorset Insider is a no-holds-barred column pulling back the curtain on local affairs with sharp insight, unfiltered honesty and the occasional raised eyebrow. Written by a seasoned parish councillor who prefers to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons), it cuts through the noise to expose the frustrations of grassroots politics, and say what others won’t. Rest assured, their identity is known – and trusted – by the editorial team. Expect opinion, candour and a healthy dose of exasperation …**
As milk prices crash (again), Tim Gelfs says it’s time for farmers to stop being ‘price-takers’, and to start learning from Coca-Cola
Herd of Dorset cows under a stormy sky Image: Laura Hitchcock
Just when it looked like our dairy farmers were finally getting back into profit, milk prices have come crashing down around their ears – and the outlook for any recovery over the coming winter months isn’t promising. Volatility now seems to be the norm across all agricultural sectors. Boom and bust in the pig industry is almost a given, but have we even asked why the beef and lamb prices have managed to stay firm over the past few years? We are told time and again that we are ‘price takers’. But why? British farmers have some of the strongest selling points in the world. Our husbandry and food safety are second to none. We produce home-grown British food, and our customer base – the consumer – wants to support us. Yet all of this seems to get lost on the shop shelf. The messaging is poor at best, and often confusing.
Just when it looked like our dairy farmers were finally getting back into profit, milk prices have come crashing down around their ears
Our farm assurance schemes are cumbersome and over-complicated, losing sight of their actual purpose – to assure. Their job is to reassure consumers that our produce is reared or grown to high, safe standards, so that when they place it in their trolley they can buy with confidence, knowing it’s been looked after from field to fork. My biggest frustration with all assurance schemes is that none of them do what I call ‘the hard yard’ – actually marketing themselves to the consumer. Yes, I know Red Tractor currently has an advertising campaign celebrating 25 years (though how many non-farmers – i.e. actual consumers – have even seen it?). But when I asked, ‘What are they following it up with?’ I got blank faces, shuffles of paper and a stuttering explanation of how much it all costs. As they say, if you can’t do a job properly, don’t do it at all!
Eggs have been riding high for more than two years.
Caffeine and sugar So, does some of the responsibility lie with us farmers? Of course it does. I’ve always said we’re rubbish – not just at marketing, but at supplying the product at the right price, at the right time, and in the right amount. Take my own industry at the moment. Eggs have been riding high for more than two years. And what have we done as an industry? Invested millions to upgrade and produce even more eggs. We don’t need that many more eggs! We haven’t spent a bean on marketing. We know we can increase consumption – we have a great product. Food inflation is out of control for many reasons, and here we have a superfood that provides a relatively cheap, on-trend protein … and we’ve done nothing. Nothing! At a time when the market is screaming out for it – and when, for once, as an industry we can afford it. Do you think when Coca-Cola was making big profits and selling out, they said, ‘Let’s just up production and enjoy the good times while they last’? Of course not. They invested in their brand and their marketing. They are arguably the best marketeers around – selling carbonated water full of caffeine, sugar and chemicals, and putting a huge margin on it! By comparison, we have products that are healthy and nutritious – things people have to consume every day, or they fall over. It’s not rocket science. Our big problem is that we’re fragmented, and we lack confidence in our industry leaders to manage and lead. We’ve never had to market our products before, because there was always someone to buy them – it’s only the price we didn’t like. That’s why we’re still ‘price takers’. We need to invest not only in our farms, but in our products and our marketing. We really do have a choice: stay the same and hope for different results, or take a long hard look at ourselves – and make the changes that count.
