16th November 2011

BRIDPORT: Campaign asks food shoppers to 'Spend Less and Eat Better'

A NEW campaign encouraging shoppers to buy local food has been launched by Transition Town Bridport this week.

The ‘Spend Less and Eat Better’ initiative has been launched following a survey of prices and quality of vegetables and fruit available within walking distance of Bridport’s Bucky Doo Square.

The survey group visited three small retailers - Fruits of the Earth, Bridget’s Market and Nina’s - and three market stalls which sell vegetables on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and compared the produce with what is available from five supermarkets in town.

Speaking on behalf of TTB, Sarah Wilberforce said: “In terms of price, there was little to choose between them, with the local retailers coming second and third place out of eleven. Clearly small shops and stalls are competitively priced.

“More significantly, many of the vegetables in the supermarkets had travelled many food-miles to reach Bridport, and were consequently less fresh.”

The most extreme example that TTB found was one supermarket selling organic apples from New Zealand.

Caroline Parking, of Leaker’s Bakery, said: “It is shocking that supermarkets are buying organic apples from New Zealand, in October, when we have Elwell's just down the road, great quality, fresh, with the minimum of chemicals, and on our doorstep”. 

The survey found that almost all of the fruit and vegetables in the small local shops, and all the stall produce, was organic and produced without chemicals and using limited energy resources.

Sarah Wilberforce added: “We are very lucky to have such a diverse and robust range of independent shops and market stalls. 

“Considering the local retailers have less packaging and are mostly organically grown, the cost difference between them and the supermarkets is not so great. 

“Add on the long and oil dependent supply chains of these giant retailers, and it makes even less sense to depend on the supermarkets for our fruit and veg.”

The next meeting of TTB food group will be at The Tiger Inn, Barrack Street on Thursday, November 17th at 7.30pm. 

More information may be obtained through the website www.transitiontownbridport.co.uk

THE Transition Town Bridport campaign says we should support local grocers because:

• There are far less food miles on seasonal local produce;

• Supporting local businesses makes Bridport stronger and increases employment;

• You know where the food is grown and how the soil is treated, giving transparency to the food suppliers;

• You get to know the shops’ owners and build up a trusting relationship with them;

• You buy as much as you need, avoiding ‘two for the price of one’ offers and wasted food;

• You learn how to cook, becoming self sufficient;

• You spend less money and avoid the enormous carbon footprint of imported and processed food.

Comments

Add new comment

Your name: Your email: (This will not be visible to the public) Your comment:

Return to news headlines