The recent explosion of Eyjafjallajokull has caused untold disruption to the world over the past week. I’m sure that there are very few people, especially in Europe, who have not been untouched by this natural disaster either directly or indirectly.
The newspapers, always guaranteed to provide a nice supply of negative stories have been whooping and screaming about the devastation that this natural disaster will have on our day-to-day lives, as opposed to the ecological consequences. One of the first issues to rear its ugly head was the damage that a lack of airline activity will do to our economy.
Air freight represents just 1% of our trade by weight, however, in value terms this represents approximately 30% of exports, with the food industry particularly vulnerable to the cessation of flights. Scarily, the UK imports 90% of its fruit and 60% of its vegetables.
Whilst a large percentage arrives via sea freight you only have to read the labels to find out which far-flung countries some of your favourite fresh produce is from. The Saturday Guardian ran a story revealing that the ban had brought the UK’s perishable handling centre to a standstill meaning that supermarkets could soon run dry of perishable goods including exotic fruits such as pineapples, guava, passion fruit; asparagus, grapes, onions, lettuce and pre-packed fruit salads as well as Kenyan roses.
Seasonal Produce, What’s that?
In a country which has lost the identity of many towns due to, in my opinion, the over expansion of supermarkets, we are over-reliant on what the supermarkets decree we should buy. Of course it’s nice to have pineapple, melons and tomatoes all year round, but this comes at a consequence? The produce is shipped in, barely ripe and taken to holding warehouses to be forcibly ripened by a barrage of chemicals. The nutrient value of the food is minimal in comparison to fruit and vegetables that are ripened on the plant and sold in season because it is the ripening process that provides the products with the nutrients.
Seasons have a reason – plants grow at certain times of the year to provide the inhabitants of that country with the relevant nutrients required for the season, as well as to provide a natural variety in our diet. For example, winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, turnips and pumpkins generally contain more carbohydrates than summer vegetables (think lettuce, spinach, chard).
The reason? The cold temperatures of winter mean our bodies have to work harder to keep use warm; winter vegetables contain highly proportions of carbohydrates, which supply the body with glucose, the main source of energy production. Additionally, in a world where we eat a small percentage of not only the food that is available to us, but also the varieties that are grown, we are actively cutting off a vital supply of nutrients that are the foundations of our health and well being.
What If?
The no-fly zone has now lifted, but I believe that nature has given us an opportunity to assess our dietary patterns and think about the ‘what if’. Rather than blindly supporting this destructive pattern of importation, lets look at what we have available in this country for our consumption. Why is it that we import foods that we can grow in the country? Its not as is we live in a desert, it’s so easy to become blasé about year-round strawberries but remind yourself about the difference in taste between an air-freighted strawberry in January to a British strawberry in May.
I’m not asking you to change the way you eat completely, just alter your routine and get to know what else is out there. You never know, you might like what you find.
Tips to Start Thinking Local
1) Farmer’s markets: not only do you get produce that has been out of the ground or sea a matter of hours rather than days, you are also giving your money direct to the producer. Find your nearest one through FARMA
2) Farm shops: those lucky enough to live in the countryside can access directly and be proud of the more limited carbon footprint.
3) Delivery boxes: The best option for city dweller who don’t have time to go to markets: Abel & Cole, The Organic Delivery Company, Riverford Organics are a couple of options.
4) Food co-ops: mostly relevant for city dweller, these provide locally grown vegetables at very reasonable prices. Sustain have a guide to nationwide co-ops.
5) Local shops: Use your independent shops to support the local economy. You will be surprised at what gems you might find in your local Chinese, Turkish, Indian supermarket. My local Turkish supermarket does pitta breads that knock the socks off the local supermarket, at a fraction of the cost.