10:48am Wednesday 9th December 2009
By Sally Churchward
IN August the Southern Daily Echo launched our Eat Local Wednesdays campaign to encourage everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to eat local food at least once a week.
Today we are launching a new petition so you can sign up to let local shops and restaurants that you want to be able to buy local produce there.
Local produce is food and drink that has been grown, reared or caught in the area.
Buying local produce, rather than food that has been shipped or flown from the other side of the world, has lots of benefits.
It drastically reduces food miles and therefore cuts down on greenhouse gasses that cause global warming.
It supports local businesses and communities, providing jobs for local people.
It protects regional food security. Oil prices have been steadily rising and as the oil supply begins to run out the price of food imports is set to shoot up. It’s important to have the infrastructure of local people producing local food rather than costly imports.
It’s often fresher and tastes better!
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