food miles
Sat, 2007-07-14 01:34 — gelbat
Regarding Sustainabundy, this makes great sense.
I get really upset when I see produce in the supermarkets which has come from interstate, when plenty is available locally. And the quality of local produce is usually higher.
We are a local grower of hydroponic produce and we know of produce being grown in Bundy, shipped to Brisbane, then shipped back to Bundy to the supermarkets. Crazy!
Food miles is now starting to become more of an issue.
If people buy locally, I think this is better for everybody, and the environment.
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Comments
July 17th, 2007
the J.I.T. model
Another very unsustainable thing about the way supermarkets currently do business is the "just in time" (JIT) model- there's only ever about 3 days worth of food available in the shops at any one time, so delivery trucks are constantly on the road, making sure food is on the shelves "just in time". The importance of cheap fuel in that process is immeasurable- as the price of fuel gets too high for this delivery scheme, a back up plan becomes necessary. It's important to know where all the local food sources are, to start giving them our business now, and to encourage others to do the same! Boy is this going to be a handy guide!! :)
July 14th, 2007
food miles and local distribution
Hi gelbat - welcome aboard SustainaBundy! You make a very good point about locally grown food leaving Bundy and then coming all the way back again. We know it happens too. Surely it would be cheaper if supermarkets had a local option - and pay local farmers better for their produce. The distribution systems that chain supermarkets have are designed to minimise cost and ensure uniformity of product quality and availability.
There would need to be some kind of growers co-operative that can provide local supermarkets with food order/availability lists in advance so that there is no glut and famine of foods. Will that ever happen? Because the supermarkets can not operate with fluctuations - retail customers would be pretty annoyed with no tomatoes due to local supply problems.
If the logistics can't be addressed then I think things will have to get worse before there is enough incentive for change. The SustainaBundy Guide will look to have maps of where to get what produce from road side stalls and when during the year to get it. Maybe that will be a start?
Dean