I buy mostly from my local Co-op as they sell veg from UK and particularly the local area (Notts, Lincs) and organic and fair trade. Plus I am a member so it’s a fair system of members rather than big shareholders. Also buy from local farms and Wildlife Trust meat from their conservation grazing stock.
That’s fantastic to hear Emma! Supporting your local Co-op and buying directly from local farms is such a the best way to keep your food choices aligned with your values. It’s great that you have access to produce from Notts and Lincs, and I love that you’re also choosing organic, fair trade, and even meat from conservation grazing. Those decisions really do make a difference for farmers, wildlife, and the wider community. Being part of a member-owned system feels so much more connected and fair than shopping with the big shareholders. It’s inspiring to hear what your up too and a great reminder of how much impact our everyday choices can have!
An idea for the farming industry’s PR agents : it says a major problem is the cost differential between local and international / supermarket produce . Why not address this head on : yield differential , between local and pesticide/fertiliser/carbon boosted crops , labour cost differential , etc etc . Also learn from the french , where the consuming public still ( largely )sticks to local seasonal produce . Lastly , a dose of REAL patriotism , not faux supermarket fibs , to differentiate and brand local farmers produce as the superior product it is , would not go amiss .
Thank you for your great suggestions! I completely agree that there’s a real need for more honest, direct communication about why local produce can cost more, from yield differences to labour and the true costs of intensive farming methods.
We could absolutely learn from the French approach, where local and seasonal food is still valued and supported by the public. And I love your point about real patriotism genuine pride in supporting local farmers and transparent branding could make a big difference in helping people see the true value of homegrown food.
Supermarkets have too much power and are not showing that they can use it responsibly. There is so much they could do to help consumers make healthier and more sustainable choices - and to give accurate and transparent information about where products are from. None of this would be difficult to do. I do hope this bill moves forward. I guess a lot of the supermarket behaviour is due to competition for market share - if they could behave more collaboratively on some of these issues, I'm sure everyone could benefit. But I'm not holding my breath.
You’ve summed it up perfectly supermarkets really do hold enormous influence over our food system, and it’s frustrating to see how rarely that power gets used to genuinely help consumers or support sustainable choices.
Greater transparency and honest labelling should be the bare minimum, not something we have to fight for.
I agree that competition for market share seems to drive a lot of the worst behaviour, but it’s disappointing when such simple, positive changes are left undone. Like you, I’d love to see this bill move forward and some real collaboration for the greater good.
Absolutely couldn’t agree more. Labels can be helpful, but so many are just marketing tools rather than meaningful guarantees. For anyone who really cares about where their food comes from, it’s worth digging a little deeper and asking questions about the supply chain, farming practices, and who’s actually behind the product. The more transparency we demand, the better chance we have of supporting truly responsible producers—not just clever branding. Thanks for highlighting this!
Isn't this fraud?
You would think so!
I buy mostly from my local Co-op as they sell veg from UK and particularly the local area (Notts, Lincs) and organic and fair trade. Plus I am a member so it’s a fair system of members rather than big shareholders. Also buy from local farms and Wildlife Trust meat from their conservation grazing stock.
That’s fantastic to hear Emma! Supporting your local Co-op and buying directly from local farms is such a the best way to keep your food choices aligned with your values. It’s great that you have access to produce from Notts and Lincs, and I love that you’re also choosing organic, fair trade, and even meat from conservation grazing. Those decisions really do make a difference for farmers, wildlife, and the wider community. Being part of a member-owned system feels so much more connected and fair than shopping with the big shareholders. It’s inspiring to hear what your up too and a great reminder of how much impact our everyday choices can have!
Very educational and helpful .
An idea for the farming industry’s PR agents : it says a major problem is the cost differential between local and international / supermarket produce . Why not address this head on : yield differential , between local and pesticide/fertiliser/carbon boosted crops , labour cost differential , etc etc . Also learn from the french , where the consuming public still ( largely )sticks to local seasonal produce . Lastly , a dose of REAL patriotism , not faux supermarket fibs , to differentiate and brand local farmers produce as the superior product it is , would not go amiss .
Thank you for your great suggestions! I completely agree that there’s a real need for more honest, direct communication about why local produce can cost more, from yield differences to labour and the true costs of intensive farming methods.
We could absolutely learn from the French approach, where local and seasonal food is still valued and supported by the public. And I love your point about real patriotism genuine pride in supporting local farmers and transparent branding could make a big difference in helping people see the true value of homegrown food.
Supermarkets have too much power and are not showing that they can use it responsibly. There is so much they could do to help consumers make healthier and more sustainable choices - and to give accurate and transparent information about where products are from. None of this would be difficult to do. I do hope this bill moves forward. I guess a lot of the supermarket behaviour is due to competition for market share - if they could behave more collaboratively on some of these issues, I'm sure everyone could benefit. But I'm not holding my breath.
You’ve summed it up perfectly supermarkets really do hold enormous influence over our food system, and it’s frustrating to see how rarely that power gets used to genuinely help consumers or support sustainable choices.
Greater transparency and honest labelling should be the bare minimum, not something we have to fight for.
I agree that competition for market share seems to drive a lot of the worst behaviour, but it’s disappointing when such simple, positive changes are left undone. Like you, I’d love to see this bill move forward and some real collaboration for the greater good.
Most labels are marketing gimmicks to drive sales. If you are a conscious consumer then take time to look at the supply chain beyond the labels.
Absolutely couldn’t agree more. Labels can be helpful, but so many are just marketing tools rather than meaningful guarantees. For anyone who really cares about where their food comes from, it’s worth digging a little deeper and asking questions about the supply chain, farming practices, and who’s actually behind the product. The more transparency we demand, the better chance we have of supporting truly responsible producers—not just clever branding. Thanks for highlighting this!