It is astonishing how the supermarkets shun locally grown food - even when it's readily available.
Local, seasonal food is healthy, cheap and environmentally-friendly. It supports British growers and reduces air-miles.
But in a survey by the Independent last year, researchers took 10 foods that were grown in the UK. They found seven major supermarket chains were importing these foods from as far away as South America.
Asda sold asparagus from Peru, strawberries from Spain and cauliflower from France. Marks & Spencer sold beans from Guatemala and broccoli from Spain.
These were foods that were in season in the UK!
It all comes down to costs and sales. It's better for supermarkets to buy some imports because of cheap overseas labour. If their customers keep buying this stuff instead of the local version, there's no reason for them to change.
This is an example of how we should be leading the supermarkets, not the other way round. After all they're not charities or environmental agencies - they're just businesses trying to make money.
So it's up to us to use our purses and wallets to make them change - force them to deliver what we want.
Local, seasonal food is healthy, cheap and environmentally-friendly. It supports British growers and reduces air-miles.
But in a survey by the Independent last year, researchers took 10 foods that were grown in the UK. They found seven major supermarket chains were importing these foods from as far away as South America.
Asda sold asparagus from Peru, strawberries from Spain and cauliflower from France. Marks & Spencer sold beans from Guatemala and broccoli from Spain.
These were foods that were in season in the UK!
It all comes down to costs and sales. It's better for supermarkets to buy some imports because of cheap overseas labour. If their customers keep buying this stuff instead of the local version, there's no reason for them to change.
This is an example of how we should be leading the supermarkets, not the other way round. After all they're not charities or environmental agencies - they're just businesses trying to make money.
So it's up to us to use our purses and wallets to make them change - force them to deliver what we want.
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