Going local
food when it’s produced down the road,”
says Adrian. “Local sourcing reconnects
us with farmers, the seasons and local
traditions.”
It also helps promote food safety.
Knowing how and where our food is
produced helps assure us of quality. And
because we’re supporting local farmers
and producers, we’re helping preserve
local farmland and green spaces.
Spending on local foods fosters local
business, too. The money stays closer
to home, boosting the local economy,
generating jobs and triggering new,
related businesses. This helps keep the
local community vibrant and tightly knit,
with more people working within it and
together.
Tempted by exotic ingredients in the supermarket? It might pay
to buy locally sourced items instead as the benefits go way
further than simply cutting ‘food miles’.
If you think reducing the carbon impact
of transporting food from far-flung climes
is the only reason for buying locally,
think again. Beyond any environmental
benefits, it’s also good news for your
palate, pocket, local producers and
community.
Carbon ‘foodprint’
Food miles measure the carbon impact of
carrying foods into the UK from abroad.
Green beans from Kenya, bananas from
Guatemala, tomatoes from Mexico: all
arrive here by airfreight. The downside?
Airfreight clocks up around a staggering
four times more carbon emissions per
mile than road transportation.
Of course, food miles alone aren’t a failsafe
measure of food sustainability: responsible
farming in the country of origin can often
offset the transportation impacts. However,
they’re still key in increasing the total
‘foodprint’ of an ingredient, and particularly
so when it’s airfreighted.
It’s also important to consider distances
within the UK. Food transported by road
and rail creates almost 2% of
UK greenhouse gas emissions; so the
closer your kitchen is to the food
source, the better.
Freshness and flavour
Local foods also tend to be fresher
and taste better. If you think there’s no
difference between a tomato picked
yesterday and one picked last week and
swaddled in plastic, your tastebuds will
probably put you right.
Because it’s usually fresher, local food
can last longer, too, helping you save
money. Plus, fresher foods mean more
seasonal foods, keeping you in tune with
the seasons. There’s also the ‘absencemakes-the-heart-grow-fonder’ factor:
if something hasn’t been on your plate
for several months, it’s likely to be all the
more appetising for it.
More than food
The buy local message isn’t just about
food either. It applies to other goods such
as regional crafts, home made products,
and books by local authors, all sold by
local, independent shops. Supporting
them helps drive the community, and as
a buyer, you benefit from authentic, and
often unique goods.
Fresh plants fall into this bracket.
“Consider their provenance as you would
food,” Adrian suggests. “Some exotic
species have to come from abroad, but
what about more everyday plants? We
grow all our bedding plants and shrubs
on site, so buying them supports local
jobs and involves fewer plant miles if
customers live nearby.”
So next time you make a shopping list,
make it local. Your tastebuds, culinary
skills, and local farmers, purveyors and
community will thank you for it.
By Sarah Iredale
Home-cooking
Buying locally also offers more flexibility
when it comes to home cooking: because
you’re purchasing fresh ingredients rather
than ready meals.
Sussex food champion Adrian Hillman
who is part owner of the Rushfields Plant
Centre and Farm Shop in Poynings which
is renowned for its award-winning, locally
produced foods— stresses the point.
“After the horsemeat scandal of 2013,
many people realised they could buy
produce like fresh mince and turn it into
a spaghetti Bolognese more easily than
they’d thought. So they started to cook
more dishes from scratch, using local
ingredients.”
Food provenance comes into play, too.
“You can know the story behind your
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