Make local food work in Wadebridge
October 27, 2009
Hope you’re going to the Lovewadebridge public meeting this Friday 30 October. Wadebridge: Options for the Future, chaired by Dan Rogerson MP for North Cornwall, is at 7pm in Wadebridge Town Hall.
The initiative arises out of concerns about the impact of another supermarket on the town. Sainsbury’s wants to develop the former North Cornwall District Council offices at the eastern edge of Wadebridge into a superstore.
From our perspective as a community vegetable growing enterprise, Camel Community Supported Agriculture wants to make local food work.
We support the retention of a range of independent retail outlets that sell seasonal, locally-produced food.
Supermarkets have a stranglehold on food supply chains in this country. They also rely on international markets to import out-of-season produce. (Like rhubarb from New Zealand!)
This is detrimental to local food producers and the environment and is definitely not sustainable.
Needs
The timely Lovewadebridge campaign is encouraging people to really think about what our town needs, rather than what corporate business and big supermarkets want.
As Jeremy Rowe, Cornwall councillor for Egloshayle, St Breock, St Ervan, St Eval, St Issey, St Mabyn & St Tudy, points out on his blog (and on Twitter):
“If a new supermarket was to be built…Would Wadebridge still be able to support two butchers, a greengrocers, two bakeries, two newsagents and all the other ‘niche’ businesses in town?”