Food folk backing local campaign

0:00am Fri Sep 04, 2009

More than 50 local farmers and produce suppliers attended a meeting to discuss how to promote local food.

The meeting, in Newark Town Hall on Wednesday, was organised by Mr David Rose, of Shackerdale Farm, Car Colston, who is the East Midlands co-ordinator for a national project aimed at encouraging people to buy locally-produced food from local retailers.

Newark is one of 22 UK towns and cities across chosen to take part in the project.

It is part of a five-year Making Local Food Work programme, paid for by the National Lottery, and led by the Campaign To Protect Rural England.

At the meeting, people were invited to stick notes to boards saying what they liked, disliked and wanted to see changed about food shopping in Newark.

They split into groups to discuss the environmental, social and economical impacts of local food.

Mrs Christine Smith, of the Barn Butchery at Hardy’s Farm Shop, Farndon, said many people in the Newark area did not buy local produce because they could not afford it.

She said: “We sell the same produce in London and don’t have a problem.”

Pig farmer Mr Des Allen of Drove Cottage Farm, Coddington, said buying local did not necessarily mean the produce came from a local supplier.

Lisa Seel, a volunteer at Flintham Community Shop, said they could promote local produce through restaurants and cafés.

She said: “I know Eden Hall Day Spa puts where all its food comes from on its restaurant menus.

“I’m sure others could do the same.”

Among the speakers was the owner of Stray’s, Middlegate, Newark, Mr Mat Short, who said he would like to see a place where local businesses could meet and support each other, such as an online forum.

He said: “It could be somewhere on the internet, where we can say: You are a business that needs this particular product; here’s a local supplier.”

Mr Short said better signs were needed telling people where they could buy locally produced food, as well as improved parking and toilets to encourage more visitors.

“We need to give people a reason to come to Newark,” he said.

Mr Rose said he was impressed by the turn-out at the meeting.

“I have never found anywhere with such interest in local foods,” he said.

“We have 46 cafes and restaurants that use local produce.”

Mr Rose said the findings from the meeting would be compiled in a report, due to be published next year.

“We will then look at who can drive it forward,” he said.

“It could be Newark Business Club, Newark and Sherwood District Council or the Food and Drink Forum, or they could all come together and employ someone to do this.”