Food Miles with Glasu

Food Miles Comparison

Beacons Veggie Boxes vs a well-known supermarket near Builth Wells

For the small holders’ show at Builth Wells, in May 2009, Glasu asked us to put together a box of locally available produce, to the value of £25.00

They then bought similar items at a well-known supermarket, and did a like for like comparison for food miles and CO2 emissions.

The findings are below:

Our Veg Box

Food	Produced	Collection Miles	Delivery Miles	Total Miles to consumer	CO 2 in Kg
Spring onions, chives	Pwllyn Farm, Brecon	0	22.9	22.9	4.7
Spring greens	Pwllyn Farm, Brecon	0	22.9	22.9	4.7
Chard	Pwllyn Farm, Brecon	0	22.9	22.9	4.7
Rosemary	Pwll Cwrt, Llangynidr	11.7	22.9	34.6	7.1
Sage	Pwll Cwrt, Llangynidr	11.7	22.9	34.6	7.1
Fennel	Pwll Cwrt, Llangynidr	11.7	22.9	34.6	7.1
Rhubarb	Pwll Cwrt, Llangynidr	11.7	22.9	34.6	7.1
Cake	Pwll Cwrt, Llangynidr	11.7	22.9	34.6	7.1
Salad	Penpont Estate, Brecon	3	22.9	25.9	5.3
Rocket	Penpont Estate, Brecon	3	22.9	25.9	5.3
Coriander	Penpont Estate, Brecon	3	22.9	25.9	5.3
Spinach	Penpont Estate, Brecon	3	22.9	25.9	5.3
Radish	Penpont Estate, Brecon	3	22.9	25.9	5.3
Fresh Garlic	Blaencamel Farm, Lampeter	48.1	22.9	71	14.6
New Potatoes	Blaencamel Farm, Lampeter	48.1	22.9	71	14.6
Carrots	Blaencamel Farm, Lampeter	48.1	22.9	71	14.6
Swede	Blaencamel Farm, Lampeter	48.1	22.9	71	14.6
Bay Leaves	Blaencamel Farm, Lampeter	48.1	22.9	71	14.6
Beetroot	Blaencamel Farm, Lampeter	48.1	22.9	71	14.6
Watercress	Blaencamel Farm, Lampeter	48.1	22.9	71	14.6
Leeks	Gwernyfed sch Garden , Three cocks	17.4	22.9	40.3	8.3
Granary Loaf	Caroline's real bread co	8	22.9	30.9	6.3
Organic eggs	Aber organic, Crai	7.3	22.9	30.2	6.2
				969.6	199.1

Local Veg box, break down of Food miles & CO 2 emissions.

*Veg box, producer and food mile details supplied by Beacons veggie boxes www.beaconsveggieboxes.co.uk, CO 2 emissions calculated using www.transportdirect.info

Supermarket Shopping Basket

Food	Produced	Total miles travelled. Including distances to consumer	CO 2 in Kg
Mixed Leaf Salad	Packed in UK	147	30.2
Spinach	Kent	235	48.2
Coriander	Spain	794	163
Cress	Lancashire	162	33.2
Bay leaves	Bucks	187	38.4
Garlic	Spain	794	163
Carrots	UK	147	30.2
Swede	Packed in UK	147	30.2
Rosemary	Israel	2243	460.3
Parsley	West Bank	2261	464
Organic Med Eggs	UK	147	30.2
Multigrain Loaf	Bristol	89	18.3
Radishes	Holland	410	84.1
Jersey Royal Potatoes	Jersey	273	56
Beetroot	N. Lincolnshire	204	41.9
Carrot Cake	UK	147	30.2
Leeks	Morocco	1454	298.4
Wild Rocket	UK	147	30.2
Celery Hearts	Spain	794	163
Watercress, Spinach & Rocket Salad	UK	147	30.2
Spring Greens	Cornwall	155	31.8
Rhubarb	Worcester	61	12.5
		11145	2287.5

Supermarket, break down of Food miles & CO 2 emissions.

* UK distances used are from the supermarkets nearest distribution centre, distances calculated using www.organiclinker.com & www.theaa.com/route-planner .CO 2 emissions calculated using www.transportdirect.info

Total Miles Traveled Total CO 2

Local Veg Box: 969.6 miles Local Veg Box: 199.1kg

Supermarket: 11145 miles Supermarket: 2287.5kg

That's a difference of 529,120 miles a year or over 21 times around the world!!!

Why buy Local?

• For every £10 spent on an

organic box scheme, £24 is generated in the local economy. By comparison, every £10 spent in a supermarket generates only £12 for the local food economy. ( www.pluggingtheleaks.org )

• Farms supplying directly to local consumers are 4 times more likely to use waste reduction techniques as those selling to wholesalers. ( www.localfood.org.uk,F3 )

• Fresh, local, organic vegetables are 40 times less likely to be contaminated with pesticides than conventional, supermarket vegetables. (The benefits of developing local food miles, Soil Association, 2003)

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