Fair miles
Being conscious of ‘food miles’ - buying food that has taken the shortest route from farm to table - is widely seen as a positive way we can reduce our carbon footprint.
We are also constantly reminding CRUX readers to purchase ‘Fairtrade’ where that option exists. Yes, some highlight the economic impact of not buying fresh produce grown in, for example, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, we must remember that the current global, corporate-dominated agricultural industry that overwhelmingly promotes the export of unsustainable cash crops in less economically-developed countries, results in “effectively sawing off the branch [farmers in the Global South] are sitting on”. (Garnett, 2008: 33)
Growing, transporting, processing and cooking food accounts for about 20% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Buying locally grown, seasonal food from our own farmers must be applauded and seen as an attempt to cut down the carbon-calories in the food we eat.
However, buying locally-produced food only reduces the amount of fossil fuel used if it has been grown using similar energy efficiency to food from somewhere else. If the local producer has used fossil fuel to heat greenhouses and used artificial fertilizers, then it can be more environmentally damaging to purchase this food. Buying seasonal, locally-grown food that is free of artificial fertilizers and other unnatural inputs can help us to have a less damaging impact on the environment through our food consumption habits.
Finally, take back control of where your food comes from by learning how to, and having a go at growing your own. Find out if there are allotment spaces in your local area which you can rent to produce fruit and vegetables. Try setting aside part of your garden to grow food, or use tubs and hanging baskets to cultivate crops if outdoor space is limited where you live. Remember that growing your own can be much cheaper than only buying produce from a large retailer – plus the food you grow will be tastier as you can eat it fresh!
Action points
- Continue to support farmers in the Global South by buying their produce which is Fairtrade and/or organically certified, or is produced using sustainable farming techniques.
- Avoid buying non-organic or out-of-season produce from large retailers that is flown in from far away. Big companies often pressurize farmers to lower their prices to unsustainable levels, which in the long-term has detrimental impacts upon farmers and their local communities.
- When buying locally, try to buy seasonal and organic produce.
- Visit local farmers’ markets and talk to the people who sell their produce – find out as much as you can about their farming methods and animal welfare.
- Walk to the shops. If you have to take the car, try to reduce the number of journeys you make or share a lift with a friend or relative!
- Eat more fresh food, and cut down on fossil fuel use associated with food of animal origin.
- Grow some of your own food – if you don’t have a garden, consider sharing n allotment with your friends – or start a community garden similar to the one behind St Peter’s in Manchester Road, Bury! You can also grow a range of produce in tubs such as tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, courgettes, and much more!
For more information on consuming fairly and sustainably, visit the websites of the following Manchester-based groups:
