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CELEBRATE REAL FOOD - Page 2

© Linda Little

Who profits from the food we buy?

Your first thought might be those who produce it. If you have read the newspapers recently, however, you may well change your mind. I live in England. In a time when lamb was too expensive for me to buy at the supermarket, farmers were getting less for a whole sheep than I was paying for a pound of meat. It's even worse in the Third World. Rather than a fair price, small third world farmers are forced to 'woo' supermarket buyers and take insultingly low prices for their commodities. Does it make their foodstuffs any cheaper on our shelves? Not usually.

Who suffers from the food we buy?

Intensive farming practices have a noticeable effect on native birds and plants. Organic farms, on the contrary often appear to be a haven for wildlife. The unfairness of trade between First and Third World countries mean that producers are often driven into debt, despite their best efforts. The push towards GM crops mean that farmers can no longer harvest seeds. The biotech industry is very jealous of its products.

So what can you do about it

You can make a difference!

Try to buy organic food. Don't buy it at vastly inflated prices either. Some supermarkets are offering organic produce at reasonable prices. If yours is not, ask them why.

Try buying Fair Trade products as well, and again, don't accept that you have to pay the earth for these.

Try to buy non-GM products. If you are not sure, ask. If your supermarket does not label such products, ask them why. Tell them you would like to have the choice, something you cannot have if products are not labelled properly.

Buy from farmers markets, pick-your-own farms, etc. Cut out the middle-man. You might be pleasantly surprised at the price of some of these products. Even if they are similar to the prices in supermarkets, you will know that the profit is going to the farmer not a faceless multi-national.

Celebrate Real Food Week. The UK branch of Friends of the Earth is looking at the whole issue of Real Food and they have lot of information, press releases, a competition for the kids etc. Find out all about it from www.foe.co.uk or www.realfoodweek.com The second of these addresses will be available only during Real Food Week - 16/25 June.

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Companion Topic:	Organic Gardening

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