This is how we do it.
There's a great story in The Guardian this Saturday. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, of the famous River Cottage cooking school, will be opening a food store. Seems he was approached by Tesco (Americans, think Wal-Mart starting with groceries and moving on to the rest rather than the other way around.) to become the public face for the company.
One of his major points in teaching cooking has always been paying attention to what he calls unnecessary "food miles". Local sourcing pays off in good cooking. He is also concerned about the destructive influence of big supermarkets on village high streets (downtowns) and markets.
But cooking is his business. The rest of us may accept that he is right, but find it impractical to wander all over the county on a regular basis to buy locally.
So, he's going to make it easier for those who live in the vicinity of Axminster, his local town. He's planning on opening a store in the town center that will sell ONLY locally sourced food, taking care to support rather than compete with local enterprises.
Norwich!!!!!! You with the big market in the middle of town!!!! Are you listening????
Labels: food miles, Guardian, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, local sourcing, Norwich, River Cottage
posted by ISAY @ 1:32 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
H F whittingstall whatever his name is makes me mad. He is only taking on Tesco's to his own advantage. Did you not get the bit that HE wants to start his own store in the little town? Totally self publicity.
People at tescopoly.co.uk have been taking tesco's on for ages. Trust a middle class studpid arse to think he is brilliant for doing what ordinary folk have done for a while.
I understand why you have posted anonymously. Apparently, YOU didn't get the part about all the independent local producers (as well as the customers that have greater access to what they offer) who stand to benefit from his store. As if he needs extra publicity.
The difference between him and the people at tescopoly.co.uk (who would, I believe, support Mr. Whittingstall's project. Perhaps I'll write and ask them.) is that he has enough standing and influence (and money) to mount a positive alternative as a protest. Not only does his project say "Don't shop at Tesco.", it gives the customer a viable alternative from which they will actually benefit and with which they can support their own community.
Call me what you like, but I've got the years of experience to not call you similar names (since such name-calling serves nothing in a debate) and the guts to put my name to what I say.
I have watched several episodes of River Cottage and I LOVED it. I think it's fantastic idea, far more sustainable in the long run than the way we go about things now. There's also another similar program (I forget its name) about a chef who owns a cafe in Camden and is planning to open up a restaurant in which all the produce is sourced locally. However, locally is London, which makes for a slightly different environment.
I personally support all local produce projects - there are several local farmers' markets around Auckland (where I live) and I love just wandering round enjoying the atmosphere, as well as being able to purchase produce that hasn't travelled thousands of miles in a container ship. I also think its a chance for many people to experience food that hasn't been processed within an inch of its (unnaturally long) shelf-life.
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