Feeding the Interest - Community Food and Health

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communitiesFood is important to society in many ways. This is clearly demonstratedby the many community projects and initiatives which are tacklinglocally identified issues. However, there is a lack of policy which linkslocal food to social need. The local food sector has the potential toalleviate social and economic disadvantage and the impact this hason business, diet and health. There is significant scope to increase theuptake of local food. With a co-ordinated approach, locally producedfoods could be sold locally at affordable prices and still be profitablefor the supplier. This would need greater co-operation amongproducers and better connections between suppliers and consumers.Co-operative working associated with local food initiatives – suchas developing project management skills, networking and buildinglinks with local colleges and the tourism sector – can make a valuablecontribution to community development and social capital building.communitieskey questionsWhich organisations are bestplaced to nurture and promotethe local food sector atcommunity level?How can access to existing localproduce be improved to benefitconsumers?An issue for remote rural communities is getting fresh local producerather than centrally sourced food, which is often all that is available.Even in more urban areas, people may depend on a small corner shopwith little fresh local produce. One way to expand the market is toconvince local businesses that it makes good business sense to stocklocal, traceable produce.Home food production is important for some, although allotmentsare relatively scarce in Scotland compared to England. Gardenproduction of fruit and vegetables is geographically widespread, andis a significant source for some households. Traditional social pastimes,such as wild fruit harvesting, have declined in recent years, but others,such as gathering fungi, have increased.Recent crises in food and farming have dented consumer confidence.Encouraging consumers to have direct contact with producers is oneway to improve consumer confidence. Farmers markets, vegetable boxschemes, community-supported agriculture and other forms of directsales, are good examples of this.14
KnowetopCommunityFarmKnowetop CommunityFarm was set up in 1980 inWest Dumbarton to providerecreational, educational,and employmentopportunities for peopleliving in a deprived area.The farm has sincebecome a limitedcompany; has grownfrom three huts toaround twelve acres; is aregistered SQA trainingcentre for horticulture and animal care;and a New Deal provider.case studySchools make good use of the farm andits new educational unit. The vegetablegarden sells producedirectly to local residentsand visitors.Recent additions include anew shop, training room andindoor soft play area.15
Page 1: FeedingtheInterestA discussion of t
Page 4 and 5: introductionFood occupies a fundame
Page 6: summaryLocal food in Scotland impac
Page 10 and 11: The experience of local initiatives
Page 12: • Limited resources for promoting
Page 15: EarthShareEarthShare, near Forres,
Page 19 and 20: case studyRenfrewshire Community Ga
Page 21 and 22: Scottish Enterprise focuses on addi
Page 23 and 24: further informationscotlandFSA Scot

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