The Buy Local Trend Continues - review of recent Institute of Grocery Distribution trends by Mike Small of the Fife Diet
This interesting article from the New York Post suggests that locally owned food businesses are the key to kick-starting the local economy
The High Street
The Millstone, Health Food Shop, 131 High St, Linlithgow, 01506 847270 – plenty of veggie & vegan options, plus local honey
T D Anderson, Butcher, 165 High St, Linlithgow, 01506 842140 - lamb, beef & pork, supplied from local farms including at Blackness and Dechmont
Taste café and deli, sell local honey, Cairn O’Mohr Scottish wine and Bellhaven fruit ice, amongst other Scottish products
J.R.Gowans mobile fish van is on the High Street (near Epulum) on a Sat, from 8am-2pm, selling a wide range of Scottish sourced fish – enquiries or pre-orders to John Gowans on 07985 468955
Farmers’ Market every 4th Saturday of the month, at the Vennel, 10am-3pm
Outskirts of town
Pardovan Farm Shop - local farm shop, including fruit, veg, meat and gifts - 15a Pardovan Holdings, Linlithgow, EH49 7RX, Phone: 01506 834470
Bonnytoun - wholesale meat, produced on the farm (order direct – farmshop closed until further notice)
Beecraigs Country Park – venison
Iain Melville’s mobile fish van covers the following areas: Tue Blackness/Bo’ness, Wed Fauldhouse/Linlithgow, Thur Whitburn/Linlithgow, Fri Linlithgow. Fish is sourced from Peterhead & Aberdeen, and is from the Atlantic, with the exception of salmon and trout which is farmed. Contact 25 Station Rd, St Monans, Fife, tel 01333 730856 or 07764448462
Craigies – pick your own soft fruit, plus deli & café
Restaurants & Catering
Epulum restaurant featuring local food, organic Scottish cheeses and organic cakes baked on the premises
Hyndberry local food catering, including ready meals and cookery classes
Veg Boxes
Damhead – organic farm shop & veg box scheme, Straiton
Freshline Foods – veg box scheme based in Whitecross, sourcing veg from local gardens when available email alicia.brodie@tesco.net
Grow Wild – organic veg box scheme, Bathgate (can select UK only or wider range, plus wide range of groceries)
My Local 5 a Day is a new veg box company, based in Linlithgow, with options to include local meat, deli and bakery products.
The Whole Shebag – organic veg box scheme, West Calder
Shopping Tips
- Buy local produce where possible
- Read the labels on food in shops and supermarkets and find out how far things have travelled. Consider choosing local alternatives where possible.
- Try to choose Organic and seasonal
- Take a list. Don’t be sucked in by tempting 2 for 1 offers. The odds are it will end up in landfill. Save money by only buying what’s on your list.
- Avoid over packaged produce. Re-use small bags and pack your own carrots, broccoli, potatoes, peas, etc.
- Aim to always cook fresh. IF we all did this, the amount of open fronted chiller cabinets & freezers would reduce and they contain harmful HFC’s refrigerant gases.
- Support UK Farmers and higher animal welfare standards. Look at the labels on the meat you buy, don’t be fooled with pretty pictures. If in doubt – ask.
- Take a personal challenge to reduce the amount of meat you eat a week. Like Meat Free Monday or something like that. Every little bit helps.
- check out Love Food Hate Waste for advice on how to reduce food waste (and save money)
Some foods have a bigger impact on climate change than others, for example meat and dairy products have greater environmental impact that most pulses, grains and outdoor grown fruit & veg. Food miles are not the only point to consider - produce grown out of season, or stored for long periods can also increase its carbon footprint. Buying fresh, unprocessed, local, seasonal food and aiming to minimise food waste will help reduce your impacts – as will fewer car journeys to the shops! See our Links page for more background reading.