Go Green - Buy Local
A Beginner's Guide To Buying Local Produce in the UK
There is a growing demand for organic and local produce in Britain but it's not always cheap or readily available. Follow this guide to get the green goods you want.
The opening of the UK’s first Whole Food Market in London recently highlighted the public's interest in organic and local produce. More than 500 greenies visited the eco-wise store on the first morning setting a precedent for similar markets across the country. But why go local?
What’s All the Fuss About?
Tastes have become more eclectic as the UK’s ethnicity and culture have evolved and because Britons tend to travel more than ever before – granted due to increased availability of carbon emitting low-cost airlines, which isn’t so good – they want a wider choice of foods.
But, 95% of the fruit and half of the vegetables in the UK are imported and can sometimes take weeks to get there. Some British fish is sent to China for processing as labour costs are lower and then sent back to the UK to be sold. The food trade is spiralling out of control and it’s up to consumers, who are directly responsible, to rein it in. It’s a demand-supply nightmare.
Good To Go Local
Buying local food instigates a new supply and demand process, it tastes better as it’s generally harvested and sold within 24 hours and if food doesn’t have to travel long distances before landing on a plate, food miles are reduced and therefore carbon footprints.
It’s also better for people’s health. Mass produced food frequently contains chemicals, pesticides, hormones and sometimes antibiotics; at least if food is bought locally and people make an effort to get to know where their food comes from they can be content with the fact that they’ve chosen safely and put money back into the local economy.
How To Find Local Produce
Farmers markets offer fresh seasonal produce that is low on food miles and uses very little packaging, if any. The National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) lists local markets, farm shops and pick-your-own farms. It’s not always possible to get to a market but there are some good online suppliers who are able to guide green shoppers in the direction of local produce or deliver to the door.
Amazingly, supermarket giant Asda has been green for a number of years and provides large volumes of local produce so read the labels and choose wisely. To keep food miles down they actively encourage farmers to deliver produce directly to their local Asda store ensuring a fresh, long shelf life.
And if during the winter the local produce is not exciting enough, Abel & Cole is an organic and local produce delivery company that never uses plane freight so has no air miles and imports varied produce from countries closer to the UK like France and Spain.
What makes it really difficult is when consumers are faced with their inner demons and have to choose local or fair trade. Decisions, decisions.
