Home » News » Farmers block distribution center AH Zwolle, supply to shops stops

Farmers block distribution center AH Zwolle, supply to shops stops

Farmers and contractors, among others, have been at the company’s distribution center since this morning. There are also farmers from Germany. There was a conversation between the trade association of supermarkets, the CBL, and the farmers. “This has not yet led to the lifting of the blockade,” said the spokesman for AH. A police spokesman says officers are keeping an eye on things.

A spokesman for the CBL says that the supermarkets are not a party to the cattle feed discussion and that the ministry and the farmers must come out together. “We are bothered by this. It has been taking too long now. Demonstration is a fundamental right. We can accept a certain amount of inconvenience. This goes a long way. We are urging both parties to get out.”

It is not the first time that action has been taken at the Albert Heijn warehouse in Zwolle. Saturday afternoon farmers blocked access to the distribution center for an hour. And also on Monday there were farmers.

“Not the right way”

The farmers protest against the plans of Minister Schouten (Agriculture), who wants farmers to give less protein to their cows in order to dampen nitrogen emissions. The agricultural sector calls the measure bad for the health of cows. The farmers also want more money for their products, because they have to incur additional costs to meet the nitrogen requirements.

“We understand the concerns of the Dutch farmers. We do not find the actions at our distribution centers the right way,” said a spokesman for Albert Heijn, which has about 1,000 branches in the Netherlands. “The farmers are concerned with Minister Schouten’s measure on animal feed. It is therefore important that farmers’ organizations discuss this with the government and find solutions.”

Yesterday, the mayors in the Zwolle region met with various farmers’ organizations. At the end of that conversation, the mayors said in a statement that they understand the situation in which the farmers are. They do however want farmers to report demonstrations in advance. “There is and remains space to demonstrate with tractors, but not on highways. The police will also enforce this.”

Schouten wants conversation

Earlier this week Minister Schouten interrupted a working visit to Zeeland because the road was blocked with tractors. The police advised her not to continue the visit.

The minister said this morning that she regrets the termination of the visit. “If you want to get along with each other, it makes sense to keep talking,” she said.

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