NEWS RELEASE
BUY LOCAL; SAVE MONEY
The rising cost of living is more reason than ever to buy local food, says the
National Farmers’ Retail and Markets’ Association (FARMA) . With a little
creativity, shoppers can enjoy good local produce and support the people who make it,
without breaking the bank.
Here are nine nifty ideas for making your food budget go further:
1) Know your seasonal fruit and vegetables and buy lots while it’s cheapest,
to enjoy every day and to keep for later. Home made jams and chutneys taste great
and are cheaper than shop-bought ones; you can freeze raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries,
blueberries and currants, beans and peas. Strawberries don’t freeze well (they
go mushy) – use for ice-cream, sorbets, cordials and jams instead.
2) Buy fruit and vegetables straight
from the producer at a farm shop or certified farmers’ market. Freshly
picked, they taste better, often cost less than the supermarkets and will
stay fresher for longer so you'll throw less away. Buying direct also cuts out
the middle man and reduces the environmental and economic impact of packaging and transportation
.
3) Think quality over quantity. Buy out-door reared, free-range, or
organic meat from the producer for assured provenance, better flavour and less added
water. Add plenty of pulses and seasonal vegetables to bulk up casseroles, curries and
mince dishes.
4) Stuff joints with nuts, herbs and dried fruit, slice thinly and
serve with plenty of trimmings as if it were Christmas.
5) Ask about cheaper cuts. Farmers’ market stallholders or butchers
will tell you how tomake great pot-roasts, slow cooked for tenderness.
6) Use one joint for three meals. Ask for the bones when buying a
joint to roast. Keep left-over roast meat in the ‘fridge and serve cold with boiled
or steamed new potatoes and salad next day, and make a stock from the bones for a tasty
base for an inexpensive soup using lots of vegetables, or a risotto.
7) Extend mealtimes by serving starters of fresh fruit, salads or
dips. Buy whole lettuce rather than the washed, bagged leaves from the supermarket - a really
fresh whole lettuce makes a lot more salad, tastes better and can be stored
for longer.
8) Use non-meat protein: broad beans are available now and make an
excellent source of vegetable protein and add bulk; combine with other summer vegetables
like peas in a cheese sauce for a complete meal. Use a strong cheese rather than a mild
one and you won’t need as much to create a flavoursome sauce – also better
for the waistline.
9) Pick-your-own farms are an excellent way to an affordable five-a-day; treat
yourself to fragrant strawberries at around £3.99 a kg, and tuck into raspberries at around £5
a kilo. Many pick-your-owns offer a wide range of fruit and vegetables.
Ends
For more information:
FARMA, Rita Exner or Laura Waterton: 0845 45 88 420 www.farma.org.uk
Please contact for seasonal recipe suggestions from FARMA.
Notes to Editors:
The National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) is a 700-strong
farmer-owned co‑operative that represents and supports direct sales to the consumer
in all its forms: farm shops, pick-your-own farms, farmers’ markets, box schemes
and internet sales.
It sets standards for farmers’ markets with an independent inspection and Certification
mark to ensure that they are genuine farmers’ markets; and works to improve retailing
and marketing skills throughout the industry.
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