Food is so much a part of our daily routines that we often
don’t give it much thought, but the impact our food systems have on the world
is vast. We all eat three times every day – that’s a lot of food, and it takes resources
to produce. Food production is central to many other environmental issues too
such as: land use, habitat loss and deforestation, air and water pollution,
climate change, flooding, soil depletion, litter and waste. Thinking about where your food comes from can help
make a difference.
Home grown food
tastes great and even a small balcony may be suitable for some tomato plants or
fresh herbs. If you only have a small outside space then an allotment can be a
great place to relax and grow your own.
Even the most avid gardener is unlikely to be able to grow
all of their own food and FoodSmiles St Albans have launched a local and
organic food map to help you find good local food. You can access the map and follow the instructions to view either
local producers, outlets selling or serving local produce, or sources of
organic produce.
When you choose local food, you choose:
- Less
pollution, as it has not travelled a long way by road, ship or plane.
- A
smaller carbon footprint and less congestion on the roads, also thanks
to the food not having travelled far and not needing to be in refrigerated
storage for a long time.
- Less
packaging. Extra packaging is used to protect food that needs to
travel a long way.
- Local
economy. Buying local keeps your money in the local area and supports
the local and national economy.