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| the directory food |
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 What
we put in our bodies on a daily basis, to keep us alive, has to
be one of the important things we do. But so often we don't give
a second thought to the quality of that food or where it's come
from. This is the time to start. This section covers
food retail, production, campaigning etc. Click here for:
campaigning groupsFor farmers' markets go here and places to eat go here. |
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| campaigning groups | |
| AsdaWatch | |
 AsdaWatch is basically the Asda equivalent to the better know Tescopoly, which isn't to undermine what they're doing in any way. Asda as part of the world's largest retailer Walmart has enormous financial power and it's happy to use it to further it's own ends. They say "AsdaWatch works to shine a spotlight on the policies of Asda Wal-Mart. Whether it is Asda's approach to its own staff or the company's impact on suppliers in developing countries, we think people in Britain benefit from knowing more about Asda Wal-Mart and their practises. Individual consumers should have as much information as possible to make ethical choices when they shop." |
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| Cultivating Communities | |
Cultivating Communities supports the development of novel arrangements between farmers and those who eat the food they produce based upon a relationship of mutual support. |
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| Friends of the Earth | |
 Friends of the Earth have a long running Real Food campaign. Friends of the Earth believes that UK Government policy is at fault: Planning - Supermarkets cause local independent shops to close. Transport - Out of town shopping areas and poor public transport are difficult for people without cars to reach. Agriculture - Lack of commitment to cutting pesticides makes it hard for people on low incomes to buy food free from residues. They have a number of related campaigns and resources on their site. |
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| Soil Association (UK) | |
| Promotes and regulates organic food production in the UK. |
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| Tescopoly | |
 This group is campaigning for: "A legally binding code of practice to ensure that all suppliers; throughout the supply chain at home and overseas, are treated fairly. An independent watchdog to ensure the grocery market is operating in the interests of consumers, farmers and small retailers. A block on any new take-overs by Tesco or other major supermarkets. Support for local shops from local authorities and Government. Measures to hold supermarkets accountable for internationally recognised workers’ rights throughout their supply chains." |
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| Vegan Society | |
"With your help, veganism will soon be accepted and understood across the
globe. Ultimately, the use of animal products (such as meat, dairy, eggs,
leather and wool) will be viewed as an inhumane and unsustainable practice
from a much less enlightened age." |
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| Vegetarian Society (UK) | |
The Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom is the oldest vegetarian organisation in the world. It is an educational charity promoting understanding and respect for vegetarian lifestyles. |
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| food retailers & suppliers in the UK | |
| The Better Food Company | |
From the outside The Better Food Company Store it isn't quite what you'd imagine, the store is located on the ground floor of a 1960's or 70's small block, but inside just is what I'd hoped for. The Better Food Company have the same welcoming atmosphere and community spirit as those west coast American stores we love so much. From the news letter I picked up it was obvious the store has had a recent refit and they seem to be just settling in to their new look. There is a great fruit and vegetable department with lots of organic produce at good prices (and paper bags - enough to win Mrs Wildberry over in-itself). There were all the usual groceries you'd expect with organic ranges from Suma and Essential Trading. They have also the added bonus of self scoop bins of muesli, organic brown basmati rice and lentils etc. - I do like a bit of self-scoop! At the other end of the store is a new cafe which is open clean and looks really welcoming. We'd only just had a coffee, not knowing there was a cafe, so we didn't sample their wares but I spotted the proper Gaggia style coffee machine, it all looked clean and reassuringly eclectic. From the website you can see The Better Food Company have a cafe and walled garden at another location, unfortunately we did have the time to go there but from the reviews on the website it certainly looks worth a visit. |
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| Bute Island Foods | |
Blog article 27 October 2007:You sometimes find the weirdest things in the strangest places! (or should I say really good things in really great places) I had a really nice email a while ago from Kris Manvell who works for Bute Island Foods in Scotland. I associate the Scottish isles, in my ignorance, with certain 'traditional' products. Whisky of course, good seafood and various types tweedy material, instead I find a group a blokes making vegan cheese or 'Sheese'. Not what I would have expected. I'm vegetarian, not vegan, and I've never really explored the delights of non-dairy cheese, but I have recently discovered soya yoghurts which I really like, so I think I might give Sheese ago. Anyway enough about my diet, every so often you look at a website that shows that the people who made it really believe in what they're doing and this is one of those. |
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| Co-operative Just about every town in the UK |
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If you are going to shop in a UK supermarket chain the Co-op is probably the one to choose. They have a great selection of own brand fair-trade goods including coffee, tea chocolate, orange juice, wine and a really great chocolate cake. Make sure you become a member though it enables you to have something of a say in the way the Co-op is run. Their dividend card also gives you money back on all your purchases and you can always donate a percentage to charity. |
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| Fresh & Wild London and Bristol |
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Fresh & Wild were a small UK owned independent chain which have recently been bought out by the US owned huge Whole Food Markets. It's generally a shame when a small specialist company is absorbed into a larger, in this case multi-national chain. I suppose only time will tell if this proves to be a good thing in this case. Fresh and Wild currently have seven stores in the UK, all but one in London, Bristol being the exception. They sell great organic, fairtrade whole foods, it's not cheap and a lot of has a few food-miles under it's belt. |
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Luddesdown Organic Farm |
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You can find their produce on sale the first Sunday of every month at Meopham Farmers' Market. |
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| Unicorn
Grocery Chorlton, South Manchester |
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 The Unicorn Grocery is the store featured on BBC Radio 4's the Food Programme. It looks great but I haven't had the chance to visit, if you have please give me your impression. |
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| The Organic Delivery Company | |
They say of themselves .. 'If you're a busy Londoner this organic food delivery service is specially for you. We're a small green local service bringing certified organic produce straight to your table.' |
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| Weeton's Urban Farm Shop |
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Weeton's urban farm shop winner of Countryside Alliance's Best Rural Retailer in 2006. They say of themselves "We're proud to stock over 1000 lines of the finest Yorkshire produce, and we've gone to great lengths to bring local food up to date with flavours from all over the world. One impressed food writer for The Daily Telegraph newspaper used the words 'glossy, sophisticated and cosmopolitan' and even pondered 'is this the future of shopping?' The Express listed Weeton's among the 'top 100 shops in the world'." |
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| food retailers in the USA | |
| Co-op America (USA) | |
 I don't have any direct experience of Co-op America so any reviews would be more than welcome. |
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| First
alternative Co-op Corvallis, Oregon |
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| This has to be the format to follow for food co-ops everywhere. They have two stores in Corvallis (OR), we went to both and bought-up a storm. |
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| Talkeetna
Natural Foods 2137 Talkeetna Townsite, Talkeetna, Alaska |
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Talkeetna Natural Foods is recommended by Jim Kloss from Whole Wheat Radio. Talkeetna Natural Foods make very clear their support for fairtrade and their concern that they should be working with the environment. Apart from groceries and baked goods they sell, they roast their coffee in-store, and there is a cafe with internet access. From the staff profiles they have some great people working there and if your in Talkeetna please pay them a visit. |
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| Wildberries
Supermarket 13th & G Streets, Arcata, California |
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They even have a weekly farmers
market, with live music, in the car park and the inspiration for our
name. Think on Tesco! |
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| other links | |
| Allotments UK | |
This directory lists Allotment sites that will help you to find, manage and get the best from your allotment. It also lists allotment related sites. |
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| Apple Day | |
Actually the website of Common Ground the charity that 'organises' Apple Day each year. But in reality there are hundreds of independent events in small communities all over the UK celebrating the wonderful apple. |
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| Brogdale | |
Brogdale is home to the National Fruit Collections, the largest collection of varieties of fruit trees in the world. Over 2,300 different varieties of apple, 550 of pear, 350 of plum, 220 of cherry, 320 varieties of bush fruits, as well as smaller collections of nuts & vines are grown here in 150 acres of beautiful orchards. A mine of information for all things apple. |
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| Donald Watson - the original Vegan | |
This isn't a link as much as an interesting story. Donald Watson was the founder of the Vegan Society in the UK and in-fact coined the word 'vegan'. The Guardian obituary gives a good sumation of his life and so does the Wikipedia entry. |
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| Growing Communities | |
Blog article 31 August 2007: Growing Communities is one of those great things an 'organisation' set-up and run by the people it serves in Hackney, East London. It started over fourteen years ago as a Community Supported Agriculture scheme which linked the members with a farm in Buckinghamshire. The box scheme started in 1993 and they got their own small piece of land in 1997. Since then the group has grown to encompass its own weekly 'organic only' farmers' market where all the produce must come from within 100 miles of their Stoke Newington base, their own piece of land growing certified organic produce and education schemes with local schools. The box scheme has grown and now helps to support over 25 growers around London. The scheme works on the basis of collection rather than delivery. You can pick-up your veg from one of four points around the borough and users are encouraged to walk or cycle to collect their box keeping the food miles even lower. This is such a brilliant scheme that has brought together members of a local community to support their fellow residents, it supports local farmers' and it brings good local food to it's members - it really doesn't get much better than that. This surely should and could be replicated in communities across the country. |
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The
Organic Delivery Company that was planned has now been set-up but
it hasn't stopped them promoting other suppliers. |
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| pickyourown.org | |
If you want to go to a local farm to pick-your-own fruit and veg then you need pickyourown.org. They have an amazing list of farms in the USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand and the UK. They also have really good tips on preserving and canning your produce. |
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| Vegan Lunch Box | |
The fantastic thing about this site is its simplicity, and I say that as a huge compliment. The temptation with any blog or website is to go off talking about more and more obscure parts of your life of no interest to any one else. But Jennifer Shmoo (which is a name to dine out on - how I wish my name was Shmoo) does exactly what she says. Every weekday without fail she makes a vegan lunch box for her 'little shmoo' takes a picture and posts it! No more to say. The woman's a genius! |
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| World Vegan Day | |
"The 1st of November is World Vegan Day and vegans everywhere plan to show the world that the consumption of meat, dairy, fish and eggs is killing our planet." |
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