Few people realise that the decisions they make about what to buy and where to buy it have a direct impact on the English countryside that we all cherish. Buying locally produced goods means people contribute to the local, rural economy and support ...
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MAKE IT A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION - BUY LOCAL PRODUCE - 4th January 2001

Few people realise that the decisions they make about what to buy and where to buy it have a direct impact on the English countryside that we all cherish. Buying locally produced goods means people contribute to the local, rural economy and support local producers.
It also brings people closer to producers, enabling them to discover whether their food and other local products were produced in a way that benefits the countryside. With this in mind the Countryside Agency is encouraging people to make a New Year's resolution to think more about where the goods they buy come from and to try to buy more local produce. 

Jon Tomlinson, Countryside Agency director, said: "If people understand that their purchasing decisions have a direct impact on the countryside and the people who live and work in it, and they decide what to buy on the strength of that knowledge, then rural areas of England will benefit.

"We all try to make life-improving decisions at New Year and this is one relatively simple resolution that can really make a difference to rural areas. Finding outlets in which to buy locally produced goods has been quite difficult in the past, but it is getting easier. There are now more than 1,800 farmshops and some 200 farmers' markets throughout England, with more and more local producers selling online too.

"The Countryside Agency is supporting these ventures through our 'Eat the View' initiative. For example, we have recently agreed to provide up to £100,000 to the Farm Retail Association to help raise the number of farm outlets selling direct to the public and increase the availability of quality, sustainably produced farm goods. With more farm shops opening and more farmers' markets this is one New Year's resolution it will be easier to keep."

To find out more about the Countryside Agency's Eat the View initiative please contact Paul Cook on 01242 533 238.

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Notes to editors

For further information please contact Julia Cropley or Nigel Ellway on 
020 7340 2909/7 or email: julia.cropley@countryside.gov.uk

The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on the social, economic and environmental issues affecting the well being of the English countryside. www.countryside.gov.uk 

The Farm Retail Association is a membership organisation of farmers who sell direct. It consists of farmers and works with and for farmers selling primary produce and on-farm processed foods direct to the public. www.farmshopping.com 

Examples of the types of project that Eat the View is supporting include:
• development of the National Association of Farmers' Markets;
• work with Food from Britain to expand the role and capacity of the Regional Food Groups to help develop awareness of regional farm products and their value to a sustainable rural economy;
• local sourcing for the hotel and catering sector, which involves a partnership with the English Tourism Council, MAFF, FRCA, regional tourist boards and Food from Britain.

Further information sources include:
• www.farmersmarkets.net - website of the National Association of Farmers Markets carrying listings of farmers markets in England;
• www.farmshop.net - for a comprehensive listing of farmshops and rural stores across England.