Breadcrumbs
Eat The View News Update (04/05/06)
NEWS
Consumers drive up supermarket supply of UK, seasonal, organic food
Five of the eight main supermarkets now source over three quarters of key staple organic foods within the UK, compared to just two in 2003, a Soil Association survey of 1,500 shoppers has revealed. On average, supermarket availability of UK, seasonal, organic food staples has risen by 10% - from 72% two years ago when the survey started, to 82% currently. Waitrose, which has topped the league since the survey started, comes joint first this year alongside Marks & Spencer - with both retailers sourcing 89% of the surveyed organic foods from UK farmers. Sainsbury’s comes in a very close third at 86% UK sourced. See http://www.soilassociation.org/shoppingsurvey
Food Industry Sustainability Strategy
The Government has recently published the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy which aims to encourage the food industry to tackle its impact on resources, such as energy and water, and its contribution to climate change. It addresses all sectors of the food industry, from the farm gate to the consumer's plate, and includes ambitions to:
- reduce the industry's carbon emissions by 20% by 2010 against a 1990 baseline
- significantly reduce the environmental and social costs of food transportation by 2012
- argue for changes to EU labelling rules to extend country of origin marking
- retailers to help re-build the market for local produce, and
- double the amount of food in supermarkets covered by ethical trading schemes.
See http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/060426b.htm
Sustainable consumption - I will if you will
Government and business must take radical action to help people tackle climate change and environmental problems, and get damaging products out of the shops. According to the Sustainable Consumption Roundtable report - I will if you will - consumers need to be able to buy green products and services as second nature. Ed Mayo, co-chair of the Roundtable, said "Going green can be smart and stylish. But it is not yet simple. We want to call the bluff of politicians, to take action to make the sustainable choice the easier choice". See http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/020506.html
Producing the Goods: Markets and Market Places
New pamphlet from Common Ground giving a history and development of markets and market places, examples of campaigns to revivify markets, and ideas for celebrating and keeping markets locally distinctive as well as vibrant. Common Ground's manifesto for markets and market places seeks the revival of markets as the impetus for a revolution in fruit and vegetable production from land surrounding villages, towns, and cities. The pamphlet is available from Common Ground with a sae and 37p stamp, or can be viewed online at http://www.england-in-particular.info/goods/g-index.html
Shoppers shopping around more
Grocery think-tank, IGD, has found that one in 20 shoppers are now regularly visiting farmers' markets and farm shops. More people also visit supermarkets, but they are increasingly prepared to shop around for some foods. Top of the list is meat, where one in four shops at a butcher - up 33% from 2004. The figures also suggest that greengrocers have almost doubled their number of visitors to 18% of the population. Source: Farmers Weekly
Waitrose line caught cod
Waitrose has become the first supermarket to ensure that all its fresh and smoked cod and haddock is line caught. Line catching uses baited hooks instead of trawled nets, with the technique reducing the impact on the marine environment. The method also results in higher quality fish than trawled fish, which can suffer from crushing in nets. Source: The Grocer
EVENTS
3- 4 June, Flavours of Faversham
10 - 11 June, Deepdale Food & Drink Festival, North Norfolk
See http://www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/foodanddrink/
11 June, Farm Sunday
Farms open to the public with various events and activities. See http://www.leafuk.org/leaf/consumers/consumer_farm.asp
17 - 18 June, North West Food Lovers Festival
See http://www.nfu.co.uk/x4473.xml
18 - 19 June, Speciality and Fine Food Fair, Harrogate
Trade fair, including judging for the Great Taste Awards. See http://specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk/
24 June - 9 July, Hampshire Food Festival
See http://www.hampshirefare.co.uk
To register for Eat the View news updates or to amend your details visit: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/ETV/register.asp
Inclusion in this news update does not imply approval or endorsement of the items or events by The Countryside Agency. All information in this email has been checked and believed to be correct, but cannot be so guaranteed. The Agency does not necessarily support or endorse the views, ideas, products or services on any site to which it provides a link.
