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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@gilanet.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] WHY GO LOCAL
  • Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 09:46:09 -0700



WHY GO LOCAL
local food: the challenge
http://www.localfoodworks.org/Web/SA/SAWeb.nsf/localfoodworks_whylocal.htm?OpenPage&charset=iso-8859-1

Food is travelling further than ever before, often hundreds of miles from
where it was produced to where it is consumed. Family farms, local abattoirs,
processing plants, local food distribution systems and small shops are all
disappearing, unable to compete in today's global market.

Over-centralisation of food has meant the loss of local distinctiveness,
traditional varieties, craft production, and a sense of belonging to the
community.

Access to fresh and seasonal food is difficult in many communities, leading
to poor diets with serious implications for long term health. In addition,
money leaks out from local economies as it is siphoned off by distant food
businesses.

the solution

Building on the experience and expertise of the Soil Association's local food
links projects and the Countryside Agency's Eat the View programme, Local
Food Works is working to reverse this trend.

Local Food Works aims, through the development of networks, to see increased
production, processing, marketing and consumption of local and organic food
to create thriving local food economies. Examples of local food networks'
activities include:

Local food in schools and hospitals
Tourism businesses offering local menus
Communities involved in local farms
Food co-ops buying from local producers
Local food directories
Farmers' markets
Regional food strategies
Food and nutrition action plans
Local food centres
Food festivals.
the future

A top priority for the government must now be to create a policy framework
which favours a more local, sustainable trade in food. Local Food Works is
involved in developing a national network of local food organisations to
achieve collective influence, develop policy and help secure the government
support that this sector needs and deserves.





  • [Livingontheland] WHY GO LOCAL, Tradingpost, 12/19/2003

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