local food facts

Saturday sees the start of British Food Fortnight from 20th to 5th Oct. In celebration of local food here are a few juicy facts:

1. There are more than 2000 varieties of apple grown in Britain.

2. Britain's seasonal climate produces one of the greatest varieties of vegetables in the world and each season's crop gives us all the nutrients, minerals and trace elements that our bodies need at particular times of the year.

3. There are 350 types of potato grown in the UK, each with its own unique taste, texture and flavour

4. There are now over 500 regular farmer's markets around the country, where you can buy food direct from the producers and often from within a 30 mile radius.

It's a good time of year for British food - the harvest brings lots of producers and consumers together for food festivals up and down the country. Check out what's happening near you.

organic milk squeeze

According to a report in the Indy today dairy farmers are the latest to feel the credit crunch and are abandoning organic practices in favour of cheaper cattle food and higher yields. Cost of organic feed has gone up by as much as 80% in some cases (some of it is flown in from China!!?) and the 36p per litre of organic milk received by the farmer now leaves him out of pocket. Farmers need prices to increase by at least 4p but the competitive nature of the nation's supermarkets makes that unlikely. I like the novel solution from a group of organic dairy farmers from around Britain who practice tai chi with their cows (in the same field rather than encouraging the cows to join in - apparently the milk has increased levels of wellbeing), who have launched a site called Chakra Checkout. Choose organic milk rather than a fizzy drink for example to help balance your Sahasrara or crown chakra, the solar plexus will benefit from more healthy foods so carrots are a good choice to increase personal power, sensitivity and joy while the heart chakra, Anahata is more in alignment when you choose items that are kinder to animals and people, like fair trade products. I am not an advocate of the dairy industry, preferring to drink nut, seed or soya milk instead but those green consumers who do drink organic milk would be best off buying from local farmers or through local shops.