Resources : Local Produce
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Local Produce
There is a wealth of information available on the web regarding how to shop ethically, sustainably, and with conservation of the environment in mind. The AONB Service is keen to promote landscape and nature conservation through the sustainable management of agricultural holdings. We need farmers to work to a broad range of objectives, not simply food production.
The present landscape of the UK is largely the product of the interaction of humans (and grazing animals) with natural processes (and geology). However the traditional farmed landscape has become a major biodiversity resourse and merits protection from intensive agriculture. Conservation is largely incompatible with agri-business and its inorganic chemical resources and heavy use of fossil fuel. A good starter on the issue can be found by clicking these links to websites We Want Real Food and CPRE Local Food Campaign
Suppliers
Suppliers
Find a local supplier for Food. Click on the link for
www.wewantrealfood.co.uk/directory
or www.localfoodshop.co.uk
Products and Crafts
Local Products and Crafts -
The AONB has 34% woodland cover and has a sustainable coppice industry,
producing charcoal and other woodland products such as hurdles and birch beesoms
Food Miles
Food miles - the concept -
Food miles are the miles involved in moving food from grower/producer to you
the consumer, it should include all the stages of the journey, the distance the raw ingredients travelled to the factory,
the distribution miles to the shop and the miles between shop and home as well as the miles involved in taking the raw
materials to the producer to grow/produce the food in the first place. All of which makes it a hard to calculate figure.
However there is help ast hand
If you want to read more on the subject click the link to the report by Food Climate Research Network Food miles research or check out their powerpoint presentation on food miles at FCRN presentation
The key points about food miles
Food miles (or food kilometres if you prefer the metric equivvalent) describe the distance that food is transported as it travels from producer to consumer.
In the UK, the food we eat travels almost 19 billion miles (30 billion kilometres) each year. This includes imports by boat and air and transport by lorries and cars
Food transport in the UK adds almost 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year. Over 2 million tonnes of this is produced simply by cars travelling to and from shops.
Choosing food that is local and in season means it does not have to travel so far. Reducing food miles can have a dramatic effect on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Reducing Food Miles
What to expect -
Click the link to find out what you can do to
reduce your food miles
Vegetable Box schemes
Vegetable Box schemes -
Follow this link to a website that tells you
how to choose a veg box scheme
