Nearly 800 people have already signed a petition as part of the Press and Journal’s Local Milk is Miles Better campaign.
The campaign, which launched last month, sets out to drum up demand for local milk and help build the business case for a new milk processing factory to be built in the region.
It follows dairy giant Muller’s decision to close the only milk processing factory in the region.
At the moment all milk stocked in north-east supermarkets has travelled more than 100 miles before it reaches the shop shelves, and it is no longer possible to buy milk which has been produced, processed and bottled in the Grampian region.
An online petition, which is available here, has already attracted more than 700 signatures.
And paper versions of the petition have been promoted by NFU Scotland, with more than 60 people signing up at last weekend’s New Deer Show.
Among those signing the petition at New Deer were Eilidh Whiteford MP and Peter Chapman MSP, and around nine local councillors.
Ms Whiteford, who is the SNP MP for Banff & Buchan, said: “The closure of the Muller plant has undoubtedly been a blow to our north-east dairy farmers, and it’s difficult to overstate the challenges the industry faces.
“Agriculture is the mainstay of many rural towns and villages in Banff and Buchan, and I am very happy to support this campaign.”
Those wishing to sign the petition can do so online by clicking here or at NFU Scotland’s stand at the Turriff Show in a couple of weeks’ time.
All signatures will be collated and given to NFU Scotland and north-east economic development agency ONE, who are conducting a feasibility study into the possibility of building a new factory for the region.
