The retailer agreed to introduce the new brand and raised its minimum milk price after a wave of protests by farmers this summer.
Four pints of Milk for Farmers cost £1.12, which is 23p more than the retailer’s standard milk.
Morrisons’ corporate services director Martyn Jones said: “When surveyed, many customers tell us that they are prepared to pay more for their milk to support British dairy farmers and this will be the first time that they’ll be given the opportunity to do exactly that.
‘Prepared to pay more’
“We will be giving Milk For Farmers our full support and the sales will show whether customers in our supermarkets are prepared to pay more.”
The retailer has also introduced Morrisons’ Milk for Farmers Cheddar Cheese which gives 34p per pack to the farmers that supplied the milk to make the cheese.
The National Farmers Union’s dairy board chairman Rob Harrison welcomed the Milk for Farmers but said farmers were still having an “extremely tough time” as winter approaches and feed costs escalate.
“We are pleased that Morrisons has acknowledged the desperate situation that many dairy farmers still find themselves in and recognise that retailers have a big role to play in, helping customers to support the UK dairy sector,” Harrison said.
‘Difference on farm’
“The 10p a litre extra will go directly back into the dairy sector and will make a difference on farm.”
Harrison said the NFU was meeting other retailers, foodservice companies and food manufacturers to build “fair and sustainable relationships” throughout the supply chain.
Meanwhile, farmers supplying Müller-Wiseman on non-aligned contracts are set to get a 1.621ppl supplement for September milk.
The supplement resulted from minimum milk price pledges made by discounters Aldi and Lidl, according to AHDB Dairy, a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
Watch out for our Big Interview with AHDB boss Jane King in the November edition of our sister publication Food Manufacture.
Verdict from NFU
“The 10p a litre extra will go directly back into the dairy sector will make a difference on farm.”
- Rob Harrison, dairy board chairman at the National Farmers Union