European leaders asks citizens to eat local food.

“Europeans are being urged to dine on steak, cheese and French fries to help clear the mounting piles of produce that would otherwise served up in restaurants across the continent”- Financial Times says. Belgian fries largest producer is urging people to eat an extra portion a week, and the Belgian Secretary General Romain Cools confirms that “The frite is an intangible cultural heritage It is a tradition that Belgians have frites once a week” and he is “asking people to increase that moment of joy an extra time in the week”. “European farmers are facing the return of butter and beef mountains and wine and milk lakes last seen during the overproduction in early 80-ties” – alarms Emiko Terazono and Judith Evans – authors of the FT release; A smart idea was introduced by the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board- they launched a steak-night social media campaign enlisting chefs and growers to share their recipes. In France the government is supporting another campaign by asking French citizens “What they can do for French cheese?” The patriotic answer is of course: eat it. Most of European producers and distributors are facing storage problems, as 95% of chilled and frozen storage in Europe are currently full. The demand collapse for farmers in UK or France can be devastating, we have similar effect in Poland in the poultry industry, however the crisis will finally come to an end. European citizens will charge on restaurants and coffeehouses, long queues to recently opened McDonalds in Poland is an evidence. The patriotic consumption habits may stay however much longer with us and become an important style of life in many countries. Pepople being at home may go for healthy food and recipes and influence restaurant chiefs after return to normal life as well. My wife's home made bread being unsurpassed, local bakery will have a problem to convince me to come back. Grzegorz Krowicki – HRIC Executive Search- since 1998 in Poland and CEE.