Local Food
Local food is good for the environment, animals and
wildlife
Buying local food means fewer 'food miles' (the
distance food travels between producer and consumer). This means
less pollution from transportation of food, and less resource use
and waste overall for packaging, processing and storage. Livestock
do not suffer the distress of long distance transportation and
developing markets for local, often traditional, food products and
livestock protects local distinctiveness, such as local rare breeds
or plant varieties.
Local food helps the local economy
A more vibrant local economy is developed if
wealth is circulated locally. If growers can sell more locally,
especially if direct to the consumer, they are able to retain a
bigger proportion of the retail price and help to create more local
jobs either directly (by expanding their own business) or
indirectly by being able to deal with other local suppliers.
Local food is healthier and more fun
Local food is more easily traceable so
you can find out about how it is produced and distributed. It will
be generally fresher than food transported over greater distances
and stored in warehouses, with more nutrients retained. Food is
often the focus of celebration and enjoyment and this can be
enhanced if it is part of a local food culture, for example cider
and cheese are traditional foods in Somerset. Such celebration can
also be a focus for tourism as experienced locally in Eastleigh
Borough by the Hamble Valley Strawberry Coast marketing.Local food can also link producers with
consumers and increases understanding of the countryside and how
our food is produced.
Organic
Food
Organic
food is better for the environment, wildlife and
animals
Organic methods of farming and
growing have been shown in studies, for example on bird surveys, to
be better for wildlife and biodiversity. It causes lower pollution
from pesticide, herbicide and artificial fertiliser use. Over 400
chemical pesticides are routinely used in conventional farming and
residues are often present in non-organic food. These agrochemicals
as they are known also use more energy in their production and
therefore organic methods of agriculture produce less carbon
dioxide - the main global warming gas - and less dangerous wastes.
Animal welfare is also taken very seriously under organic
standards.
Organic food can be good for
the general economy
It is true that organic foods are more
expensive to buy than non organic but this is due to a number of
complex reasons. For example, the yields are on average between 10
and 20% lower than in conventional agriculture and, with some crops
(potatoes, for example), it may be as much as 40% lower. Also,
production costs are higher in organic farming. For example,
organic farmers don't use herbicides so they have to weed some
crops, such as onions and carrots, by hand. Such a labour intensive
method contributes to a more expensive product but creates more
jobs.
However, non organic production does not take
into account the hidden costs that are paid by someone else.
Pollution and waste disposal have to be regulated and treated. For
example, it is the tax payer or water consumer who pays for
chemicals to be removed from drinking water, mainly as a result of
the pesticides used in farming. So, if there were more organic
production, more money could be diverted into other public services
or savings made.
Organic food is healthier and more tasty
Many people prefer organic food because they
say it tastes better, often because it has a lower water content
and so the taste is more concentrated. Organic carrots and tomatoes
are often cited as being particularly more flavoursome than their
non organic counterparts.
On average, organic food contains higher levels
of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium,
iron and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants. Organic
food doesn't contain food additives which can cause health problems
such as heart disease, osteoporosis, migraines and hyperactivity.
For example, amongst the additives banned by the Soil Association
are hydrogenated fat, aspartame (artificial sweetener) and
monosodium glutamate.
There is also a growing concern about the high
use of antibiotics on farm animals and the possible effects on
human health. Organic standards prohibit the routine use of
antibiotics. Organic farmers and growers are protected from the
hazards of handling and using dangerous agrochemicals and
potentially harmful residues (from pesticides for example) are not
passed on through the food chain.
Doing Your
Bit
- Grow your own food organically
- Buy locally produced food, preferably
organic
What the Council is Doing
The Council is a member of the
local . The Edible Plant and Wildlife Garden and the
Cook and Eat project are partially funded by the local food
forum.
For more details contact Jeanette
Keyte on 023 8074 7424 or e-mail jeanette.keyte@etvspct.nhs.uk
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Page Last Updated: 7/18/2008
Eastleigh Borough Council
legal disclaimer
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Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN
Telephone: 023 8068 8068, Fax: 023 8064 3952, Text: 07797 877001
Email:
direct@eastleigh.gov.uk