[Netnews-action] article: local food

[michael]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Paul D'Ambra <paul at manchesterfoe.org.uk>


    Help Manchester Friends of the Earth find out how local is local

A study published yesterday by DEFRA reveals that the cost of "food
miles" has risen to nine billion pounds a year in the UK.1 N.E.F.(New
Economics Foundation) found that £1 spent in a local business is worth
£1.76 to the local economy as opposed to being worth 36p when spent at a
large chain or multinational.2

Shopping locally can have a massive impact on our eco-footprint so let’s
start visiting our local shops and using them. If the corner shop
doesn’t stock fruit and vegetables then ask them to, order from a box
scheme or grow your own. Check out www.realfoodguide.org.uk if you don’t
know where to start.

But how local is our local food? If you want to help but only have a few
minutes then the next time you buy fruit and vegetables ask where it was
grown and send the results (what food you asked about, where you asked,
whether they could answer and what the answer was) to
paul at manchesterfoe.org.uk with the subject “How local is local”.

Paul
Manchester Friends of the Earth 
Food Campaign 

Reference: 
     1. “The validity of food miles as an indicator of Sustainable
        Development” DEFRA
        http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/reports/foodmiles/default.asp
     2. Stewart Wallis, Executive Director of The New Economics
        Foundation, Society Guardian, Wednesday March 30, 2005
        http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,1447416,00.html