Shock statistics for local buying

The statistics have been highlighted by the Country Land & Business Association (CLA), the rural economy experts, stating that the UK public sector has simply not got the message that purchasing local food helps support local jobs, while providing better value and quality. This low level of local food purchasing was described as "appalling and a shocking statistic" by CLA president Henry Aubrey-Fletcher who added: "The two per cent means that of the £1.87 billion spent on food by public sector groups, only £36 million goes to local, British producers." Despite the problems on this front, Aubrey-Fletcher revealed that the CLA's Just Ask campaign encouraging the public to ask where the food on their plates comes from when eating out, was being extended after a successful year in operation. And the next stage of the campaign will include a survey of a wide range of public and private sector bodies to find out just how much these groups, ranging from primary care trusts to football clubs, have embraced the local food agenda. "At a time when local food issues are rising up the political agenda, it seems clear to us that more needs to be done with the major purchasers – by the Government, the industry and by producers themselves. "Before we can make recommendations, we want to establish what influences the decisions and evaluate the options – aiming to publish the survey results on St George's Day (April 23)," said Aubrey-Fletcher adding that a specialist group from the food service sector will help to direct the campaign. "We realise that we don't have a monopoly of wisdom in the food sector, so we want to use all the skills available to us through our allies in that sector, and, above all, we want to encourage everybody involved in the food chain to Just Ask where the food they are buying comes from."