New Zealand lamb's being bagged as over fat and over priced by Welsh farmers angry that our organic products are being sold ahead of theirs.

Federated Farmers meat and fibre chair, Rick Powdrell, said New Zealand farmers produce one of the most carbon-efficient users of land in the world, even when you take into consideration transporting it to the other end of the globe.

"That sort of food mile rhetoric is old-fashioned, out of date and has been proved to be very incorrect."

Powdrell said it's not the first time Welsh farmers have had a moan about our lamb - and it won't be the last.

They're angry that the Prince of Wales' company, The Duchy Organic range, is selling New Zealand lamb chops, cutlets and legs from 20,000 kilometres away to the supermarket chain Waitrose.

Sheep farmer Gethin Havard said he's been lambing for the past eight weeks, battling the elements, only to go into his local Waitrose to find "inferior" New Zealand lamb for sale.

He said the industry's on its knees and is not going to get up unless there's some degree of loyalty from retailers.

Waitrose said it has to use New Zealand organic lamb to ensure a continuous supply to its 340 stores when British lamb is out of season.

Local farmers said Prince Charles is so pro-British farming that the move seems to cut across everything he believes in.

Powdrell said if you lose your shelf space because you can't supply product, it can be a struggle to get it back.

"Because they are wanting to maintain organic product in their supermarkets they have gone elsewhere to source the product, and thankfully for us they've chosen New Zealand organic lamb."

As for it being over-fat... Powdrell said that surprises him, and he'd like to see proof.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand said organic lamb being sold in the United Kingdom is not fatty at all.

General Manager Nick Beeby said that's due to a shortage from Welsh farmers this time of year - and he said our lamb is known around the world for its quality.

"New Zealand lamb in the UK for over 130 years has been recognised for it's consistent and high quality, so to hear comments like that is obviously very disappointing and I would suspect, probably not entirely true."

The head of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand, Brendan Hoare said that fat is what people want.

"It's all about taste and profile and New Zealand's butter is that thick creamy fatness that the world and certainly chefs would be wanting."

Hoare said as for price, New Zealand farmers know they can attract premium prices for their premium products.

Beeby said the farmers need to understand the New Zealand meat is providing a replacement to a shortage from their regions at this time of year.

"All negative commentary isn't helpful. We've got a job to do to understand their concerns and talk through the issues."

Hoare agrees and said that he heart of the issue is customers getting used to being part of a global food-supply system, and expecting a year-round supply of food.

"People don't see lamb as a seasonal product, so too is kiwifruit. People forget that at times of the year New Zealand actually imports kiwifruit."

Hoare said locally provided food is becoming a powerful motivator for customers but we also live in a world where convenience is king.