Food Miles and Local Food
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What are Food Miles?
Today, food is travelling increasing distances ‘from the plough to the plate.’ These distances are referred to as “food miles.” It is a consequence of our current food industry that Food Miles are on the increase. Food production, distribution and consumption patterns have undergone a major transformation over the past 50 years. Retailers have continued to develop ever more extensive and sophisticated distribution systems and import an increasing volume of produce. Consumers have also become used to a large range of quality produce and are less aware of the seasonality of produce.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of Farmers Markets and local food guides to encourage interest in local farming and to reconnect the producer to their community.
Why purchase locally produced food?
There are a number of benefits for supporting local food production
include: local co-operation; local distinctiveness and sense of belonging; opportunities for more diverse employment; increasing food culture; skill and enterprise development through greater production diversity; breaking down of social and geographic barriers; increasing local ownership and participation; improving communication and understanding between urban and rural dwellers; encouraging democratic control over local food production i.e., bottom-up development; increasing confidence and pride in local communities.
Environmental benefits include: reduction in convenience packaging; reduction in pollution from food transport; increased diversity of landscape and wildlife; less transportation of animals; understanding and support for distinctive local landscapes.
Health benefits include: improved access to fresh, less processed, affordable food; likely to be improved nutrient levels in food from a reduction in transport time and storage; opportunities to involve people in healthier eating activities; less alienation from food production and a greater sense of choice; understanding and responsibility for diet.
Economic benefits include: keeping money in the local economy; local economic regeneration; ensuring ‘added value’ goes to the producer; encouraging entrepreneurship; reversing the decline of rural services and depletion in food and farming physical infrastructure; increasing sustainable enterprise and job creation; supporting small business and community enterprises.
For further information look at the Sustainable Cheshire website which also provides links to Made in Cheshire and Local Farmers Markets.
Other related pages on Fairtrade and Organic
Return to Purchasing home page
Return to Eco home page
Any comments / queries / suggestions to Stefania Isbell
or tel 01244 603191 or fax 01244 603033
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