Communities taking control of their food can save money and eat well in spite of the Recession and global price increases. That’s the message from Making Local Food Work, a Big Lottery funded programme that aims to change the way a million people buy their food. By coming together and linking directly with local producers, community members can benefit from economies of scale, the freshest produce and knowing exactly where their food comes from and how it was produced.
Almondsbury Community-Owned Shop in Gloucestershire is one such example: Opened and owned by local residents, it provides a wide range of groceries for the community. The shop carries out regular price comparisons with the major supermarkets and wholesalers, selling key items at the same or cheaper prices. Chairman Alun Evans attributes this to the flexibility of being community owned: “Customers know what these items are worth and they know that they won’t find such fresh produce in the supermarket. We’re flexible enough to stock it as soon as it comes into season and to change our prices to match the supermarket or the wholesaler’s recommended retail price, whichever happens to be cheaper.”
By cutting out the middle man, local food schemes like community-owned shops, food co-ops and buying groups can make fresh, healthy food available at prices that are affordable for all. This means that households on a tight budget can still access a range of local foods whilst the producer is guaranteed a fair price.
Headlingly Fowl and Pig Co-ops in Leeds were established by a groups of friends and neighbours who wanted access to affordable local food with clear, traceable origins. They approached a local producer at a nearby farmers’ market with an offer; they would guarantee to buy a certain level of products each week over a six month period. In exchange the farmer would offer a lower price to the group’s members. This local food community enterprise has led to benefits to both the farmer, in terms of a guaranteed market, and consumer through lower prices and knowing exactly where the food comes from.
Communities across England are being supported by Making Local Food Work to develop similar schemes. A consortium of key organisations from the food and social enterprise sectors, led by the Plunkett Foundation; the programme hopes to put communities firmly back in the driving seat, making fresh, healthy, affordable local food a reality for everyone.
Getting involved in growing the food is another way to save money. In Warwickshire, Canalside Community Food grows organic vegetables for its 104 members, each of whom has either a £12 or an £8 share in the harvest every week. Local people who have recently lost their jobs can volunteer to work for a handful of hours a week in lieu of payment. There are currently six members on this ‘Workshare’ scheme and they are finding added value beyond the free food, as they learn new skills and make new friends. Workshare volunteer Amy Footer has found it invaluable: “I only recently moved to the area and so being on the Workshare has enabled me to meet people and feel a part of the community. I really enjoy the sense of satisfaction I get from this type of work and as I’m only receiving a part time wage from my office job it’s also really helped me to keep my food costs down.”
Jan Trefusis, Communications Officer for Making Local Food Work said, “Through a wide variety of approaches, local food community enterprises are proving that by getting together, you can take control of the affordability and accessibility of local food.”
For more information on how you can take control and how Making Local Food Work can help you, go to www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk
PHOTO: Farmers, employees, members, volunteers and pets all pull together at Canalside CSA.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Making Local Food Work (http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk) is a five-year programme funded by £10 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces Programme. Making Local Food Work aims to secure the long term future of thriving communities that are strongly connected with the land, that understand where their food comes from, and are empowered to respond to their own needs using community-led solutions. A consortium of seven organisations, led by the Plunkett Foundation, is pooling its expertise to develop and promote different types of community food enterprise, giving advice to people all over England looking to re-engage and help others access good, fresh, local produce with clear origins. The partnership includes Campaign to Protect Rural England, Co-operativesUK, Country Markets Ltd, FARMA, Plunkett Foundation, Soil Association, and Sustain.
The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme was launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The programme is funding a range of activities from local food schemes and farmers markets, to education projects teaching people about the environment.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006. Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Alternative Case Study:
Some enterprises exist with the express purpose of making fresh, healthy food available to everyone. This is the case for the Hungry Snail food co-op in Wakefield. Established three years ago, it trades at local community venues including schools and a traveller site, as well as delivering within a three mile radius. For founder Henry Fisher, it’s all about involving people creatively in the local healthy food chain, and customers appreciate it: “People just enjoy coming and chatting to me. It’s a trusting relationship and they remark at how cheap the food really is: They can buy premium range produce at value range prices.” In addition to providing access to quality food, the scheme also encourages people to grow their own, selling surpluses through the co-op. Hungry Snail plans to obtain its own allotment for growing and, true to its ethos, the group is also involving the community by planting fruit trees around local housing estates
High resolution images available on request