Rena camp in Åmot municipality is one of the largest military camps in the Nordic region. There are 2,000 soldiers here. And in Åmot, many farmers grow potatoes. But even if there are several large potato fields in the same municipality as the military camp, the soldiers are served foreign potatoes in the mass. That makes farmers react. The head of Innlandet bondelag, Elisabeth Gjems, runs her own farm at Rena. She thinks it is bad that the soldiers in Rena camp should eat foreign potatoes. She is concerned with self-sufficiency and believes that the Armed Forces should go ahead and use Norwegian products whenever possible. – The armed forces should be involved in securing our food security, she says. SERVING POTATOES: Anne Rustad and Elisabeth Gjems from Innlandet Bondelag became popular when they served baked potatoes to soldiers and commanders outside Rena Leir. Photo: Inger Johanne Solli / news Sjølvforsyninga Bondelaget’s goal is to increase the degree of self-sufficiency in agricultural products to 50 percent. It is the same goal that the government set itself in the Hurdal platform. But today it is 40. – We want to show that ongoing Norwegian food production is important. And that we actually have good food preparation, if we use it, says Elisabeth Gjems. Campaigners: Elisabeth Gjems in Innlandet Bondelag campaigned by serving Norwegian potatoes to soldiers and commanders in Rena camp. Photo: Inger Johanne Solli / news She wanted to show that Norwegian potatoes are at least as good as foreign ones. That is why they campaigned outside the gate of the camp in Åmot, to show that Norwegian potatoes, from Hedmark, are more than good enough. A pleasant action, someone will say: They served soldiers and commanders baked potatoes. – At my mother’s house, I always ask for food with brown sauce and potatoes, commander Tatjana Amigo smiles. She appreciated the campaign for the farmers, she would not say no to a good lunch. And like many other young people, she eats much less potatoes than older people. – But when you’re first going to eat potatoes, they have to be Norwegian, says Amigo. Public procurement It is the Armed Forces Logistics Organization (FLO) that runs the soldiers’ fairs in the Armed Forces. – We make the selection of products that the Armed Forces need in line with the regulations for public procurement. This also applies to foodstuffs. This is what senior adviser Hans Meisingset in the communications staff in FLO wrote to news. – Tender competitions are announced in the market and framework agreements are entered into with suppliers, who supply both Norwegian and imported goods. Meisingset adds that each individual kitchen can also make agreements with local producers about individual deliveries. NORWEGIAN POTATOES: Norwegians have more Norwegian potatoes than in many years, so far in 2023 more than 90 percent of what is sold in the store is Norwegian. And there is still a bit left in stock. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Norwegian share increases Organizational manager Gunn Jorunn Sørum in Gartnerhallen has an overview of the Norwegian potato market. She also believes that the Armed Forces should serve the soldiers Norwegian potatoes. – The armed forces and other public actors are responsible for large purchases. And they lag far behind the private market. Only 20 percent of the purchases of fruit and vegetables they make are Norwegian. Otherwise, Norwegian potatoes are gaining ground in the market. So far this year, Norwegian potatoes account for 92 percent of what is sold in the store. And there has been a big increase in the Norwegian share in the last 10 years. As recently as 2016, only 60 per cent of potatoes traded in Norway were Norwegian, the rest being imported. Gunn Jorunn Sørum also believes that the Armed Forces can buy Norwegian potatoes, without breaking the rules for public procurement. – If they emphasize, for example, sustainable production, little use of pesticides and short-traveled food, there is room for maneuver to land in Norwegian. We can deliver more Norwegian greens if demand increases. USE NORWEGIAN: Organization manager Gunn Jorunn Sørum in the Gartnerhallen believes that the Norwegian Armed Forces and the rest of the Norwegian public sector are lagging behind. Only 20 percent of the fruit and vegetables they buy in bulk is Norwegian. Photo: Julie Lunde Lillesæter/Differ Media / Julie Lunde Lillesæter/Differ Media Increased status Bama, which supplies potatoes to Norgesgruppen (eg Kiwi), Rema 1000 and Coop, also confirms that Norwegian potatoes have increased their status with consumers. – We are working to ensure that the producers invest in potato types that the consumer wants, for example small yellow potatoes. And we are constantly working to get better storage conditions for Norwegian potatoes, so that they stay fresh for a long time, says communications manager Pia Guldbrandsen at Bama. She says that it has been many years since they have had as little stock of Norwegian potatoes at this time of year as now, and that it will probably be eaten up during the spring and early summer. NORWEGIAN FOOD: Bente Åland (Ap) came to Rena to support the campaign for Norwegian potatoes for Norwegian soldiers. Photo: Inger Johanne Solli / news Political support Two Storting politicians had also come to Rena to show that they support the message from local farmers. Both Bente Åsland (Ap) and Bengt Fasteraune (Sp) believe that the Armed Forces should go out of their way to purchase Norwegian foodstuffs. Also because they should be concerned with self-sufficiency. Fasteraune sits on the Defense Committee and he says he will ask a question about the matter in the Storting. WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE: Bengt Fasteraune (Sp) believes the Armed Forces should go out of their way to serve the soldiers Norwegian potatoes. Photo: Inger Johanne Solli / news
ttn-69
The armed forces serve foreign potatoes at Rena camp in Åmot – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
