Citation
(2000), "London's food", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 30 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2000.01730aab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
London's food
London's food
A new report produced by Sustain with grants from the King's Fund and the National Lottery reveals that London would benefit if more of the capital's food was grown within its boundaries. The report shows that two thirds of the food eaten in London is bought from just four supermarket companies and that 86 per cent of its fruit comes from abroad. London households also produce 607,000 tonnes of organic waste a year, almost all of which ends up on landfill sites. Yet with better planning London could grow much more of its own food. London has nearly 3 million private gardens and 30,000 allotments. Tara Garnett, research officer for City Harvest said that, while large scale agriculture is impossible in London, at least 216,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables could be grown each year. By encouraging and co-ordinating food growing schemes it would benefit the economy, reclaim unused land, reduce the need for freight transport and encourage healthy eating.