Long-term planning and European Union funding has ensured that Maltese poultry is of a very good quality and is priced affordably locally, said Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday.

Dr Gonzi was speaking during a visit to Valle di Miele poultry producers in Burmarrad. The Prime Minister arrived at the plant looking slightly chilly like everyone else, bearing in mind the blustery weather and showers yesterday.

As usual, he donned a white gown and hair net without any complaint and took it all in his stride as he was escorted around the plant by owner Paul Gauci. Mr Gauci said that the cereal price spike last year could have pushed prices up, had it not been the government that subsidised the price of animal feed. He also said that the plant provides employment for 23 people.

Dr Gonzi said the plant had been modernised as far back as 1995, “yet, the company did not stop there and continued to modernise its plant through EU funding over the past years.”

He said that the production plant was impressive. “It is completely sanitised and the products are protected from contamination from beginning to end,” said the Prime Minister.

Dr Gonzi said that all products were traceable. “You can even see where the egg was laid, even if it was abroad,” he said. The Prime Minister said that local poultry produce is as fresh as it gets. “That is what makes it a good product. Farmers come here with chickens at midnight, specifically to ensure that the product hits the shelves early in the morning at the peak of its freshness,” he said.

Dr Gonzi said that price was important, but nothing could replace freshness and quality, which is what Maltese products can offer. “And I appeal to Maltese people to look for local produce,” he said.

He said that the price of cereals and in turn fodder, had spiralled upwards in the past weeks and months and that the government had decided to subsidise the cost. “The price of poultry in Europe, where there have been no such subsidies, has seen an increase of about 20 to 30 per cent,” he said. Dr Gonzi said the plant was a good model for others to follow and stressed the need for a growing economy so as to allow for measures such as the price subsidy to keep the market stable.