According to the Local Government Climate Emergency Toolkit, there are multiple benefits to shopping locally; including reduced carbon footprint, energy conservation, preservation of natural resources, and waste reduction.
Products and goods which are produced and / or sourced locally tend to travel much shorter distances, thus reducing the carbon emissions associated with transporting them.
The same can be said for buying seasonal produce, which are those foods either in harvest or at the peak of their quality at that particular point in the year. Food products which are not in-season tend to be transported from further afield, and therefore have a higher impact on the environment.
Impact of Food Production
A good starting point is to understand the impact the production of certain foods has on climate change.
Our World in Data provides some excellent data on the environmental impacts of food production.
If you want to find out the impact of specific food items you consume, then the BBC’s Climate Change Food Calculator can help you calculate this.
Farm Shops
Farm shops are another excellent place to find good quality local produce.
Fabulous Farm Shops provides a comprehensive directory of farm shops to help you find what is available in the area.
Grow your own
A great way to reduce your ‘food miles’ is, where possible, to grow your own.
If you have space, then you can turn a corner of your garden into a vegetable patch – Love the Garden provides ‘top 10 tips’ on growing fruit and veg at home.
If you don’t have the space, or you fancy a bigger challenge, then you might wish to consider taking on an allotment. The Council runs the allotments at Reading Road, and the Woodley Allotments Tenants Association website is an excellent source of information.
