News Archive

When: 14th September, 10am - 4pmWhere: Paintworks, Bath Road, Bristol BS4 3EHMany food projects and businesses are trying to change the food system – by promoting healthy food, selling local and organic produce or increasing people’s access to better food.  Not only is this task large, but it is also hard to make these initiatives work, and be financially viable in the long term.  Local Action on Food runs a diverse network of businesses, community projects and individuals who care about sustainable and healthy food. We are organising this conference to explore some of the possible avenues for food projects...

A shining example of how communities are taking more control of their futures came today with the announcement that over 1.4 million people have already benefitted from a nationwide initiative to support community food enterprises.The Making Local Food Work programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme, reported that it had already exceeded its target of reaching out to 1 million people by 2012, with a staggering 1.4million people being provided with better access to local food by sustainable community enterprises. Making Local Food Work is a 5 year programme which aims to help communities across England to...

The Making Local Food Work August Newsletter is now available to download. In the newsletter this month:MLFW News -Support for community food enterprises benefits over 1.4 million-New MLFW facebook page launched-MLFW Climate Change Report available to download-The People's Supermarket opens for business-Farmers' Market discover 'double value' from weekly trading-National media coverage on signage for Farmers' MarketsMLFW Support and Case Studies-Skillshare supports Bungay Country Markets-Wells Farmers' Market goes from strength to strength-How to start a food co-op in a .... new factsheets available to download-Call for tender - CSA project strand evaluationTraining and Events-Setting up a food co-op in your community...

The Making Local Food Work recently posted on the Government’s Your Freedom website highlighting the planning restrictions of using signage for local Farmers’ Markets. Due to planning legislation which came into being before farmers’ markets really came into prominence, farmers’ markets are not able to use signs to promote themselves.  Through Making Local Food Work, The Plunkett Foundation and FARMA (The National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association) have undertaken retail health checks with a wide variety of farmers’ markets across England.  We know from this work that these signs are the best way to let people know that a farmers’...

Wootton shop in Oxfordshire recently visited Feckenham shop in Worcestershire, as part of Making Local Food Work Skillshare Study Visits programme.  The visitors gained lots of new ideas to help them further develop their shop, such as how to mange volunteers effectively and being creative about obtaining fittings and fixtures.  They also picked up tips on stocking and promoting local food in order to add diversity to the shelves.  Read more about this casestudy here.

The Community Supported Agriculture model has recently enjoyed significant coverage in a recent article in Country Smallholding magazine.'People Power' outlines the success of community supported agriculture and the benefits that can be gained as a community engaged with food growing. Through highlighting the stories of individuals and their involvment with CSAs there is a clear message that there is much more than good quality, fresh produce to be gained.The article also clearly states the advantages to farmers in facilitating and supporting local communities to become more hands-on with food production. Read the article in full here. 

The People’s Supermarket has opened its doors this week with one simple idea: people can benefit from cheaper shopping bills if they give up some of their time to work in the shop.The shop, developed as a co-operative, was based around ideas popular in the US and they specifically drew inspiration from Park Slope Food Co-op in New York.  At The People’s Supermarket, a not-for-profit venture, members are asked to work four hours a month and in return can expect savings of at least ten per cent on their shopping, compared to non members.The People’s Supermarket will be situated in...

Adam Bedford’s column (Opinion 14 May), acknowledges the growth of community supported agriculture within the UK.Community supported agriculture, where communities/individuals buy into a farm, has incredible potential to address a range of issues affecting farming today.  It could bring more land into productive use and provide a way in for younger people with a long term interest in farming.Photo: Canalside Community Agriculture, WarwickshireIt also provides opportunities for farmers to work with members of their local community to farm areas of their land for mutual benefit, or to be employed directly by community groups to grow food.  And it reduces the...

Loxley Valley Community Farm, a Community Supported Agriculture venture, was featured on BBC Radio 4's On Your Farm on Sunday.Loxley Valley Community Farm is a community-led smallholding near Sheffield offering local people the opportunity to produce their own food and become more involved in their community. The farm has set up a local food cooperative that produces nutritious, safe and affordably priced food for members. It also works with the local community to promote the benefits of local food and sustainable farming.Run by a group of volunteers, all of the farm work is shared so anyone can get involved, regardless...

Making Local Food Work partners Sustain have been busy creating a series of food co-op and buying group fact sheets in partnership with the Soil Association, which will be available to download from their website very soon and also in printed format. These are focussing on different settings for food co-ops including universities, schools, workplaces, children's centres and more. If you are interested in getting a copy of any of these please let us know foodcoops@sustainweb.org We have also been updating the food co-ops finder database to make it easier for you to add a new food co-op or update your entry....