Growing concerns

Buying good food
9 December 2010

How do you ensure the food on your plate is helping the environment?

Ask yourself: "What is my main concern?"

Supporting local business
My health
Fair trade
Unsure

A. Supporting local business

Buy locally produced food. This also cuts down food miles. For details of your local farmers' market, visit www.bigbarn.co.uk/.

B. My Health

Buy food grown organically. Always pick British organic over food that has travelled from further away. To find out more visit the Soil Association's Why Organic. And for all things organic, visit A lot of organics.

C. Fair Trade

If you are concerned about poverty in developing countries, buy Fairtrade-certified products such as coffee, tea, chocolate or bananas.

D. Not sure

Don't fret. If you can, load your shopping basket with food that is local, or organic, or Fair Trade Certified. You can be sure that you have made a far better choice than whatever else is on offer.

This is an extract from Save cash & save the planet.

If you care about good food, find out about the Slow Food Movement. It promotes food and wine culture, but also defends agricultural biodiversity worldwide.