Supporting Local Foods

Described below is our involvement with promoting local food since 2004, in reverse chronological order.

Food Webs (May 2012)

CPRE has been conducting research into food webs and has found out the benefits of buying local food. One is that areas with strong local food webs have better access to fresh food and retain a distinctive local character in their towns and villages. As well as research reports, there is also a pilot project at Bishops' Waltham.

> Read more ...

New Rural Partnership (Nov 2011)

CPRE Hampshire has formalised a strategic partnership to work with county food group Hampshire Fare. The two organisations share a common commitment to the prosperity and integrity of Hampshire. Both organisations believe that local food is good for farmers, good for producers, good for consumers and good for the countryside.

> Read more ...

Storm Clouds the Countryside (Summer 2011)

In loving our countryside we are all aware of the debate surrounding food. World food reserves are low, there are failing world crops because of climate change, the Americans are subsidising the production of bio-fuels and the changing diets of large populations including the Chinese and Indians are all driving the pressures on food. The world's population stands at about 7 billion, with 1 billion people going hungry, another billion people without a balanced diet and yet another billion relying on unsustainable fishing, the situation is serious enough. But for those of us who are well fed there are now serious questions over the sustainability of our agricultural systems because of their reliance on oil and natural gas.

Merrick Denton-Thomson writes about how we can manage the land to achieve CPRE's Vision for Countryside - read the full article.

Local Food Update (2008)

by Jessica Roach

CPRE Hampshire's work with the University of Winchester this year has involved work on the local food network in the Test Valley area. Through investigating the producers and outlets of local food in the area it was decided that a local food directory would be of use to promote and improve the opportunities for local food in the district.

Two producer directories are being created; one will be available to customers who wish to receive further information about the producers in their area and the other directory will be aimed at owners and managers of retail outlets in the area in an attempt to encourage the stores to stock local produce and make the local goods more accessible to the customer.

The directories are progressing well and a wide range of products will be included in the directories covering both food and drink producers. The majority of the producers are based within the Test Valley with a select few from the surrounding area also included. The producers have all been very positive and helpful towards the creation of the directories and although it is due to be completed shortly, new producers are being added every week.

The directories are due to be finalised and complete by the end of April and will be available from the county office and from a number of stores throughout the Test Valley.

Local Food Update (2005)

by David Coldwell

In 2004, CPRE backed the interest in, and enthusiasm for, local foods by sponsoring the Farmers' Market category of the Hampshire Life Food and Drink Awards. This year we have been offered the opportunity to continue to partner Hampshire Life by repeating a sponsorship, and we have chosen to support the Best Local Foods category.

The CPRE sees the many important benefits that come from an expanding market in local foods. Some of them are described in the autumn newsletter: a win-win for all the stakeholders; for our farmers, for the local character of our communities, for the consumer and the local economy.

In addition, there is an increasing understanding of the negative impact of 'food-miles'. If food is less well travelled on its way to us consumers, this benefits global warming, with less use of fossil fuel; in addition we have fresher, tastier, better quality and healthier food, and at a cheaper cost to the supply chain. In these days of food scares, the increase in consumer confidence of being able to know and see the place of production, is also entirely justified.

Local Foods Competition 2004

by Stephen Harwood, Chairman, Rural Affairs Group

East Hampshire and Havant District Group of CPRE, together with Hampshire Fare and supported by East Hampshire District Council and Hartridges Soft Drinks, promoted a Local Food Competition during Hampshire Food Festival week last July, to encourage pubs and restaurants in East Hampshire to serve food from local sources.

Entry to the competition was open to local public houses, hotels and restaurants. Entrants were invited to send in menus, each dish had to include ingredients sourced mainly from local producers.

The 12 pubs that entered were all visited by the judges, who unanimously agreed that the Selborne Arms, Selborne, Hampshire, was the deserving winner of the competition. The Selborne Arms won the competition for the excellence of their menu, and the variety of local produce used. The judges felt that they entered wholeheartedly into the spirit of the competition and clearly enjoyed celebrating Hampshire Food Festival week. They were presented with a colourful framed certificate and a silver plate. Two other pubs were highly commended, namely The Bat and Ball at Clanfield and the Good Intent in Petersfield.

Turning to the issue of the availability of local food, CPRE's vision is that by 2007, wherever you live, you should be able to walk into any shop, supermarket or restaurant and find affordable local food that:

Comes from the nearby countryside
Is produced in a way that benefits the environment - or at the very least does not harm it

Local foods can strengthen local economies by keeping money locally for longer. Many rural areas are suffering from decline after the battering that agriculture has taken from a succession of disasters. Local foods can also help to safeguard the rural environment, precious landscapes and the amazing countryside character and diversity of our countryside, by promoting traditional smaller scale farming methods. And local foods can help reduce 'food miles' - the many miles of road travel food must undertake between farm gate and our homes. With just one abattoir in Hampshire, it means that many animals have to travel great distance out of Hampshire to be slaughtered and back again.

This page last updated 12th May 2012