30,000 miles from farm to plate

INGREDIENTS FOR a typical Christmas dinner may have travelled 30,000 miles before they reach the UK, according to Euro-MP Caroline Lucas.

Dr Lucas said she is worried that European turkeys, African vegetables, Australian wine and American cranberry sauce will have notched up enough ‘food miles‘ between them to circumnavigate the globe.

But this international trade in locally available produce is damaging the environment and undermining local economies.

“Ingredients for a traditional Christmas Dinner are in season in the UK right now – that‘s why they‘re traditionally eaten at Christmas,” she said.

“There‘s simply no need to eat mange tout from Zimbabwe, runner beans from Zambia or carrots from South Africa.”

Dr Lucas said that by eating locally grown produce the public could enjoy fresher, tastier food and support local economies.