Food

There are many ways in which the food we eat impacts on the environment, from food miles to chemicals and even greenhouse gas emissions from cultivation, livestock and use of fertilisers.

Here is some information to help you start enjoying tasty and environmentally-friendly food today.

Local and seasonal

Food miles, the distance travelled from field to plate, are of increasing concern to many shoppers. People are becoming more aware of the benefits to their health, the local economy, the environment and local communities of buying produce that is local and seasonal.

The miles travelled by our food has increased enormously because of centralised packaging and distribution centres, transporting food for different processing operations, importing produce like fruit (95% of which comes from overseas), and cheaper labour costs overseas.

Consumers now travel further to do their shopping, with the average UK adult travelling about 135 miles every year by car just to shop for food!

There are many ways in which you can reduce your food miles:

• Visit your local farmers market
• Look out for the New Forest Marque® and buy products that carry it
• Explore your local farm shops and other independent outlets
• Sign up to a local vegetable box delivery schemes.

Some of the products we consume do not have a locally sourced alternative and goods such as bananas, tea and coffee, are highly likely to be imported from less developed countries where producers are often vulnerable to changes in global food prices.

The way we shop can therefore affect the lives of people across the globe as well as the environment.

The Fairtrade movement and other similar accreditation schemes use consumer power to tackle poverty in developing countries by ensuring producers are paid a ‘fair’ or ‘living’ wage.

Fairtrade and other schemes set out minimum social, economic and environmental standards, ensuring a better deal for people and the environment. Where a choice is available you might consider buying products that have been accredited under a Fairtrade scheme.

Buying organic

There are many reasons to buy organic produce, including the taste and the high animal welfare standards required under organic schemes.

These days, buying organic is relatively easy but may well cost you a little bit more. Be aware that a lot of the organic produce we see on supermarket shelves has been imported from abroad so sometimes you need to make a decision between purchasing an organic or a local product.

Always look for the Soil Association mark when buying organic - the mark is one of the most established and the standards it requires are very high.

The benefits of organic farming (sourced from the Soil Association) include:

• Wildlife and the environment: Organic farms have been found to be higher in biodiversity than non-organic farms and contribute substantially less to water pollution and soil contamination.
• Climate change: An organic farm contributes less to climate change than non-organic. The main reason for this is the lack of chemical fertilisers which use vast amounts of energy in their production.
• Vitamins and Minerals: There is an increasing amount of evidence to suggest organic foods contain higher amounts of vitamins and minerals and cancer fighting antioxidants than non-organic.
• Chemicals: There are hundreds of approved food additives for non-organic produce but organic standards generally only permit those that are naturally derived. Eating organic also helps avoid pesticide ingestion.
• Genetically Modified Organisms: No genetically modified crops or ingredients are allowed in organic farming systems.
• Antibiotics: Organic food is largely antibiotic free (the routine use of drugs and antibiotics in livestock and feed is not allowed with organic produce).

Grow your own

Growing your own food makes sense for the environment, your own health and your finances and there are many ways to do it.

• Vegetable patch or raised beds: Anyone with a garden can create a vegetable patch with a bit of digging effort and persistence! Even if you just have a small outside space you can create a raised bed.
• Window boxes: If you don’t have enough room for a raised bed, you can still produce things on a smaller scale, like herbs in a window box or tomatoes grown in a pot on your doorstep.
• Allotments: For those without a garden an allotment could be the answer. You get to meet and learn from other gardeners and may even swap produce at harvest time. Your parish or town clerk will be able to tell you if there are allotments in your area.
• Small livestock: If you have the space you may be able to produce your own eggs, meat or even dairy products. You do not need a great deal of space for chickens as a few birds can be kept in a movable house and run or ark.

Further Information

New Forest Produce
www.newforestproduce.co.uk

The New Forest Marque® provides a recognised sign ensuring that produce is from the New Forest. This website tells you more about the marque and includes a directory of where you can buy New Forest Marque® produce. It also includes recipe suggestions and details of events such as New Forest Farmers Markets. Call 01590 646692

The Big Barn
www.bigbarn.co.uk.

Locate your local farmers markets, farm shops, wholesalers, producers, butchers, nurseries, pick your own and restaurants.

The Soil Association
www.soilassociation.org.

A charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health. All you need to know about organic and including an online organic directory, which has a searchable database of farms, allowing you to find the location of your nearest box scheme or farm shop.Call 0117 314 5000

New Forest Transition
www.newforesttransition.org.

An amalgamation of several grass roots community groups with a shared goal of reducing the reliance of their communities on oil. One of their projects is the New Forest Food Challenge in which they are asking people to sign up and eat local, grow local.Call 023 8029 2531

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
www.rhs.org.uk.

Advice on almost anything to do with gardening, as well as events and a gardener’s calendar so you don’t miss the perfect time to dig your vegetable patch. Call 0845 260 5000,

Garden Organic
www.gardenorganic.org.uk.

Charity dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food. Advice and information on organic pest controls, and an online shop. Call 024 7630 3517,

The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG)
www.nsalg.org.uk.

Aims to preserve, protect and promote a traditional way of life, found in allotment holding. Call 01536 266576

The Poultry Club of Great Britain
www.poultryclub.org.

For guidance on welfare, housing, selecting breeds and more. Call 028 2074 1056

Low-Impact Living Initiative
vwww.lowimpact.org.

Links to useful websites for advice and information on keeping bees, pigs, goats and other livestock. Call 01296 714184,

Permaculture Association (Britain)
visit www.permaculture.org.uk.

Permaculture advice for both beginners and experts, and lists training opportunities.Call 0845 458 1805,

Fairtrade Foundation
www.fairtrade.org.uk.

Charity that registers products as Fairtrade as well as aiming to promote and enhance the understanding of the Fairtrade Mark. Call 020 7405 5942,

The mention of an individual product, brand or company is for illustrative purposes only and should not be taken as either an endorsement or recommendation by the New Forest National Park Authority of that individual product, brand or company. You are advised to seek independent professional advice as to what might be appropriate for your individual circumstances.

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