NEWS
What are we really
eating?
Three part Guardian report on food in the UK.
Part 1: The
way we eat now
Part 2: Why
we eat this way
Part3: Your
guide to the best
Better Food for Our
Children
A parents' group in Denbighshire has managed to improve the quality
of school meals. The group, called Gwell Bwyd I'n Plant (Better
Food for Our Children) has instigated the removal of all processed
chicken foods, such as chicken dippers, from the menu at Ysgol
Betws Gwerful Goch school.
More rice, pasta and vegetables have been added. The parents wanted
locally grown, nutritious and traceable produce which also would
benefit the local producer, community and economy. The parents
of Gwell Bwyd I'n Plant are now hoping to expand their campaign
to ensure other children in
Wales benefit from better school meals. (See www.icwales.co.uk).
source: Sustain
Devon
co-op milks the TV market
Definitiely Devon, the south-west dairy co-operative, is launching
a major television campaign to encourage consumers to buy local
milk.
The £50,000 campaign, believed to be the biggest spend on
regional food product television advertising since the late 1990s,
will be aired in the west country from 23 June. Recent research
undertaken by the organisation indicated that, given the choice
of regional milk, 65% of consumers would buy it.
Slow
progress on pesticide residues
The Government's latest pesticide residue results [1] show that
little progress has been made in reducing pesticide residues in
our food, despite retailers' and food companies claims that they
are working to reduce them. Parents will be particularly concerned
to learn that residues in samples of infant food exceeded legal
limits.
Shake-up
for allotment laws
The government has ordered a national audit to monitor the use
of allotments to prepare for a shake-up of laws governing their
use. As interest in locally-grown food has increased, campaigners
have wanted
the laws changed to allow allotment-holders to sell surplus food
to markets. Other legal reforms could allow the green spaces to
be used for relaxation.
Haskins’
Rural Delivery Review principles
Lord Haskins has published the seven principles which he has developed
to guide his thinking on the Rural Delivery Review. They include:
better accountability; readiness for policy change; devolution;
customer focus; simplicity; co-ordination; and value for money.
NAFM
Certification Scheme Reassures Customers
The National Association of Farmers' Markets has awarded certification
to 75 markets across the UK in the first year of the "gold
standard" scheme.
Launched on 1 June 2002, the certification scheme is independently
verified and designed to reward the markets that uphold the recommended
criteria of fresh, local, own produce with a distinctive logo.
FSA
local services information
The Food Standards Agency has published a list of food-related
initiatives run by local authorities, so the public can find out
what’s happening in their area. The list includes initiatives
such as hygiene
awards, healthy eating schemes and registers of food-law convictions,
plus contact details for individual local authorities.
Do
supermarkets have too much power?
In a national opinion poll commissioned by the New Economics Foundation,
50 per cent of people in Britain think supermarkets have too much
power.
Diversification
increasing?
Diversification schemes are contributing as much income to farm
businesses as cash generated from farming, according to Barclays
Agriculture.The bank's updated figures estimate that 42% of farms
have diversified operations and that these businesses generate
on average £9500 profit from an average turnover of £28,000.
PUBLICATIONS / WEBSITES
The website of Food Links UK is now live.
Food Links UK was established in 2002 as a network of organisations
active in supporting the local food sector.
www.foodlinks-uk.org/index.asp
Rural
proofing report
The Countryside Agency's latest Rural proofing report into the
Government's rural proofing performance has been published.
EVENTS
Food for a Better
Leicestershire , 25 June
A workshop to explore opportunities for sustainable food procurement
and catering in Leicestershire’s schools and hospitals. A
one day event organised by Sustain and Leicestershire Food Links.
Contact; James Petts on 020 7837 1228
Successful Tendering
for Public Contracts, 26 June 2003, London
Business Links Supply Chain Group is pleased to invite businesses
from the Food Industry to attend the seminar to be held from 2pm
to 7pm at the Grange Holburn Hotel, 50-60 Southampton Row, London,
WC1B 4AR. To book a place, please contact Mary Edwards on 020
7010 1544 or mjedwards@bl4london.com
Hampshire Food on
Public Plates conference -Examining
the issues and opportunities for sustainable food procurement,
Hants, 3 July
Contact: Frances Stokes, Hampshire County Council, frances.stokes@hants.gov.uk
Local Government,
Local Food conference, Wolvehampton, 9 July 2003
An event to examine the opportunities for local producers to supply
public organisations in the West Midlands. Participation in this
conference is by invitation only. For further information please
contact Karen Leach, Localise west Midlands, on 0121 685 1155
or info@localisewestmidlands.org.uk
Making
Links: community food projects and networking
A national conference Sustain's Food Poverty Project is holding
a national conference, "Making
Links: community food projects and networking" on 14 July
2003.
Ruralnet
conference
The details of the ruralnet 2003 conference are now available.
Better School Dinners,
4 September 2003, Monmouth
Organised by Sustain and Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty in association with Adventa, Gloucestershire Food Links,
and Herefordshire Food Links. The conference will explore how
schools can procure local, sustainable food as a means of improving
the quality, uptake, and sustainability of school meals to the
benefit of the local economy, environment and people.
Contact; Catherine Fookes, Wye Valley AONB, Hadnock Rd, Monmouth,
NP25
3NG, Tel: 01600 710841 or Email: development@wyevalleyaonb.co.uk
Organic
Food Festival 2003
6 and 7 September Bristol – various locations
JOBS
Job adverts cost £100 for each newsletter (circulation
over 900).
Please send copy to:news@locafood.org.uk
