Feilding’s central square was bursting with thousands of locals keen to catch a glimpse of Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall as they entered the town’s Farmers Market to meet local agribusiness leaders and farmers.
Prince Charles was keen to hear details of NZ’s deer farming sector after observing several deer farms on his trip north from Wellington to Feilding earlier that morning.
Local venison and lamb processor plant owner John Signal responded to the Prince’s questions on the age deer were processed in NZ and also what other products were exported apart from venison.
Earlier the Prince, who is patron of the global Campaign for Wool, commented on the weak and volatile prices for wool and added he was “doing what I can” to support demand creation for the fibre he described in glowing terms.
“It’s an amazing fibre. It’s sustainable, fire retardant, it’s natural. It’s just got so much going for it, yet demand globally is not strong enough,” he said.
The Prince also queried how strong returns to farmers were in NZ before heading into the Farmers Market to sample some of the local fare.
The royal couple were also treated to entertainment from local dance groups and given a shearing demonstration.
Camilla later visited the Massey University veterinary teaching centre and watched students riding their horses, following a brief visit to the university's equine research unit, while Charles visited the Cheltenham farm of John and Diny Dermer.
