It’s my great pleasure to introduce our newest Eating Britain writer: Gemma, a business and personal coach specializing in growing ‘green’ businesses, ‘greening’ businesses and helping individuals live in a more sustainable fashion. To see how she can help you or your business or to give her suggestions for future articles please go to www.illuminate-coaching.co.uk or email gemma@illuminate-coaching.co.uk.

Want to know what is best – Organic or fair-trade products? Should we buy locally and support our farm shops or try to buy from poorer countries that obviously desperately need our support? What about the carbon footprint our food creates?

I’ve faced the same confusions, and often still do! Obviously I don’t expect you to live exactly the way I do, but hopefully by sharing what I’ve found with you I can help you find easy solutions that work for you in your life.

As there are so many different angles to look at in food alone I’ve decided to keep these articles short and sweet and look at just one little section at a time. So this first one deals with our bread and butter – literally!

Bread & Butter

This was an area of total confusion to me a while ago but then I found www.ethicalconsumer.org which contains a handy table scoring different products ethically, taking all factors imaginable into account. Perfect for when you don’t have the time or inclination to bake your own bread.

So what are our supermarket choices? These days it’s relatively easy to buy organic bread in your local supermarket, if you prefer sliced you can get it sliced there or think about buying Warburton’s organic, this is one of the highest scoring widely available breads according to the good people at ethical consumer magazine. There are more ethical breads, but these are not so easy to get.

Or see if you have local bakers you can support, many of these do their own organic bread and you have the added benefit of it being packaged in a nice biodegradable brown paper bag rather than the plastic that mass produced brands come in.

As for me, I’ve started baking my own bread again, at first this wasn’t easy just because it was so time consuming but I recently found a recipe that suggested leaving the dough to rise overnight slowly in the fridge – genius!! Now I can start preparing it before bed and not have so much to do in the morning when I am typically a little too busy to start baking bread.

If you want to start baking your own but are hampered by time why not try doing it on the weekends only? If you bake your own bread it’s getting much easier to find organic flour on the shelf at your local supermarket, but if you’re not finding it, try going online to http://www.dovesfarm.co.uk and check out their list of stockists and don’t forget to mention to your supermarket or shop that you want to be able to buy organic flour from them. As yet I can find no suppliers of Fairtrade flour so it seems best to stick to the organic angle on this one.

Butter – this really confused me! Should I buy butter or margarine?? Should I buy anchor ‘free range’ that’s been flown from New Zealand? Or maybe English or European butter after all it will have a smaller carbon footprint, won’t it? What about organic butter? And is it true that the palm oil used in so many margarines is causing devastation in South East Asian Countries? So much confusion over such a small thing!

Back to the folks at www.ethicalconsumer.org where I read an excellent article by Lyndsey Whalen called ‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ that explained everything to me and of course I could refer to their table for an ‘at a glance’ solution. The highest scoring on this table are still unfortunately harder to find so I have reproduced the top half of the table here to start making your life easier. You can buy online at www.abelandcole.co.uk, or www.goodnessdirect.co.uk, but this can lead to extra delivery miles so as with the flour, don’t be shy to ask you local store to stock it for you, you never know, by doing this you might also help others eat more ethically too!

I hope this little run down has helped make it easier for you to be ethical, for more information on anything written here please do check out the links I’ve included, there are many other sources of information out there also and I plan to keep introducing them with my further articles.

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After the late Autumn sunshine at the weekend, Monday was gloomy but a visit to Cocoa Loco brightened my day in a very delicious way! The first thing I noticed when entering, is the wonderful smell of chocolate which cocoons you and then my eyes rested on the huge range of goodies. The beautifully laid out displays of truffles, cookies, brownies and buttons are so enticing, it’s a chocoholic’s dream.

Cocoa Loco’s lovely Sarah was at hand to explain how the truffle making is a craft in itself, requiring training, experience and flair from the maker (the talented Dawn), to produce these decadent bites of heaven. There are various ways to eat a chocolate truffle, some people pop the whole thing in and munch away but I like to eat half at a time, biting through the crisp shell and savouring the intense flavour as the creamy centre melts on my tongue, filling my whole mouth with chocolaty loveliness- sublime!

Ingredient provenance is of vast importance to the team and Cocoa Loco’s Soil Association certification means that their products are organic, additive free and mindful of the environment at every stage of production – luxury with a clear conscience!

The truffles are just a part of the delights that Cocoa Loco offer, the handmade cookies and brownies really are divine – I bought one of their blondies at our farmers market this weekend and how I managed to get it home before tucking in was pure will power! I love the fact that special diets are taken into account, so even those of us with intolerances and allergies can indulge without having to worry.

As well as the truffles, brownies etc, there are fruits and nuts dipped in luscious chocolate, including mango, Brazil nuts and spicy ginger, which are available in gift jars that look almost too pretty to open! I am trying my hardest not to think about Christmas yet but there were so many gift ideas, I couldn’t help but come away with a milk chocolate ‘12 Days of Christmas’ – an enormous bar divided into scenes from the traditional song, to keep you going for those days after your Advent calendar has run out!

The funky Chocolatiere set for making supreme hot chocolate has already gone on my wish list and hopefully with enough not-so-subtle hints, I’ll be getting one as a pressie this year (Dave are you taking note? Hehe!).

On Friday 17/10/2008, Cocoa Loco are running a chocolate making session, where participants will be able to make their own bars and truffles as well as learn about tempering chocolate and you’ll get to take all your goodies home. Times: 9am-1pm, Cost: £40, To book tel: 01403 865687

Finally, if I haven’t already given you reason enough to go and visit Cocoa Loco this week, Sarah’s son Oscar has come up with a yummy competition where you have to guess the weight of an enormous jar of chocolate buttons and if you’re correct, you get to win the jar and entire contents! So get over there, have a guess, try some truffles and meet the lovely welcoming team from Cocoa Loco and have a fabulous chocolaty time!

Thank you so much to Sarah, Rory, Dawn and Enza for creating award winning chocolate heaven in a little piece of West Sussex.

For more info about Cocoa Loco, check out their website or better still go and see them this week!

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About Traidcraft

Traidcraft’s mission is to fight poverty through trade, practising and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives. Established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty, they combine a trading company and a development charity. Traidcraft builds lasting relationships with producers, support people to trade out of poverty and work to bring about trade justice.

So, by treating yourself or your loved ones to some Traidcraft chocolate, you’ll be helping producers around the world at the same time.

Fair trade organic chocolate available in Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Crisp, Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate and Dark Chocolate and Orange varieties. Around £1.70 per bar.

For stockist information visit www.traidcraftshop.co.uk or call 0845 330 8900.

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Oz is an advocate of the 4 S’s: see, smell, savour and swallow. Using skills that would make any sommelier proud, he shows us how to use every sense to swirl, sniff and roll the flavour over your tongue. Think dollops of cream on English scones and Wimbledon strawberries.

Organic milk has all the nutritional goodness of non-organic milk, but the fact that the cows are fed on a more natural diet means that there are additional benefits. Not only does the milk contain higher vitamin levels, but traditional production methods mean that you’re helping farming in the UK and supporting local industries. Information from OMSCo, the organic milk cooperative, also shows that non-organic milk comes from farms that are allowed to use GM cattle feed, routine antibiotic treatments and synthetic pesticides. These are not permitted on organic farms, which makes it an ethical choice too.

OMSCo dairy farmer, Mike Cottrell also backs the Taste Organic Milk initiative to encourage people to take more time to appreciate the real taste of organic milk as a drink, declaring:

‘Our farm is organic which is what I believe to be the key to great tasting milk. We use traditional farming methods to produce purer, more natural organic milk that is good for you, the cows and the countryside.  Our cattle are fed on the very best quality non GM feed, and our fields are not treated with pesticides.  I really believe that happy cows mean great tasting milk.’

Click here to watch the video.

For more information visit www.tasteorganicmilk.com

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Harry will make no money from this venture so that as much revenue as possible will go back to the smallholder farmers in Africa and Latin America.

The BAFTA award winning comedian has recently travelled to Malawi with his brother Rod Hall, an organic farmer in Devon, where they met some of the peanut farmers and saw for themselves the benefits of Fairtrade.

Harry said: “I love salted peanuts myself and feel I am doing a service to snackers everywhere who want to know the farmers who grew what they are eating have been paid a fair price. I’m working with Liberation because all of its products are Fairtrade and the company is run purely to benefit the farmers and their families.”

Harry has been heavily involved in getting the taste right for the nuts and with the pack design. The nuts will be sold on a backing card which features a cheeky design penned by Harry himself.

The nuts, with a special extra roasted taste, will be available in 50g packs at a suggested retail price of 59p, an eminently affordable Fairtrade munch at this time of credit crunch.

Liberation is a Community Interest Company (CIC) which means it is 100% run for the benefit of the community it serves – nut farmers and gatherers from poorer parts of the world. It supplies its own Liberation branded nut snacks – a high-end range of baked cashew and peanut mixes – to Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Oxfam shops and health food stores nationwide. It also supplies UK supermarkets with most of the nuts for their own brand Fairtrade products.

Liberation is a ‘sister’ company to well known Fairtrade brands Cafédirect, Divine Chocolate and fresh fruit pioneers AgroFair UK.

Harry visited Fairtrade banana and cocoa farmers in Ghana in 2002, and also launched the international FAIRTRADE Mark for the Fairtrade Foundation in that year. He was one of the well known personalities photographed by Trevor Leighton for a photo exhibition of people having fun with Fairtrade products, organised by the Fairtrade Foundation in 2006.

Ceri Willmott, Managing Director of Liberation, says: “Liberation is dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers in poorer countries through developing and marketing irresistible nut snacks. We are delighted to be working with Harry on this project which will be of tremendous benefit to farmers in Malawi and Nicaragua. Look out for Harry’s Nuts! at convenience stores, pubs, off licences and at ethicalsuperstore.com from October onwards.” For more information please see www.chooseliberation.com/Harry.

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation adds: 2This significant move will give people the chance to enjoy snacking on Fairtrade nuts while helping nut farmers survive. Too often in the main market farmers face huge fluctuations in market prices but, by choosing products with the FAIRTRADE Mark, we can all make a real difference to the lives of farmers, workers and their families in developing countries.”

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From 6-21 September, individuals, businesses and communities will be hosting events to raise awareness of the environmental, health and social benefits of organic production. Not only that, but the campaign gives everyone a chance to enjoy organic products from delicious food and drink to beauty and textiles.

The fortnight kicked off with the Soil Association Organic Food Festival, Europe’s largest organic celebration and the campaign closes on a high with the Soil Association Scotland’s Organic Food Festival on 20-21 September.

During Soil Association Organic Fortnight, there will be lots of events going on in your area. To find out what’s going on and where, check out the Soil Association website and I look forward to hearing where you went and what you did.

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As well as receiving a welcome pack (including your membership card, two informative booklets and the first copy of the supporter magazine) you will also receive this fabulous bag absolutely free (pictured). This Soil Association bag is brand new for September, and is set to be the talk of organic town.

But why Jigsaw? Well, Jigsaw founder John Robinson used to be an organic farmer and remains very passionate about all things organic. By joining the Soil Association you’ll be helping create a vibrant food culture in which the importance of good food is truly valued and in return for your support, you’ll be regularly updated with info to help you lead a planet-friendly lifestyle.

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These awards showcase the best quality organic food and drink, judged by a panel of respected food writers and judges. Winners will be presented with their prizes by the Soil Association’s new president, Monty Don, as part of the launch to Soil Association Organic Fortnight.

Baby, Infant and Children’s Food: Apple and Raspberry Smoothie from Hipp Organic, www.hipp.co.uk
Judges said: “A perfect drink. It is a beautiful pink colour and the flavours are a perfect mix of fruits.”

Baked Goods: Wild White from Hobbs House Bakery, www.hobbshousebakery.co.uk
Judges said: “Chewy delicious loaf with fresh taste of wheat and a fabulous boxy red crust.”

Beer and Cider: Yellowhammer IPA from Black Isle Brewery, www.blackislebrewery.com
Judges said: “Seductive honeycomb and beeswax scent and taste. Very fine floral palette with a fine faintly muscat scented finish. Admirable and unusual level of complexity, lots of well balanced different notes.”

Cakes, Puddings, Biscuits and Confectionery: Macaroon from Judges Bakery, www.judgesbakery.com
Judges said: “Moist and crisp at the same time, a great macaroon.”

Cereals: Super Muesli from Claybrooke Mill, www.claybrookemill.co.uk
Judges said: “This looks and tastes like the real deal: unadulterated cereal flakes – none of the sugar-coated, honey crisp, oven-roasted variety here – and profusion of nuts and dried fruit. Simple, rich and gimmick-free. The perfect base for a fresh fruit and yogurt muesli experience.”

Dairy: Eggs from Ben’s Hens, www.rodandbens.com
Judges said: “A golden egg in every sense of the word. Sadly, the rise of the industrial egg has meant we have largely forgotten how good a real egg can be. Eggs of this quality are one of nature’s finest foods, every bit as precious as truffles and worth their weight in gold, The fact that a humble egg has won should be an inspiration for everyone who cares about what they eat.”

Fruit and Vegetables: Pointed Cabbage from Woodlands Farm, www.woodlandsfarm.co.uk
Judges said: “Very nice texture and colour, superb flavour, sweet, looked lovely raw. Simple steaming was the best way to cook it.”

Meat and Fish: Pork from Rhug Estate, www.rhug.co.uk
Judges said: “Pork as good as this is a very rare find these days, and when it’s as good as this it is the king of meats. What a treat and privilege it is to have this. If there was more pork like this, then our pig farmers could look forward to a better future.”

Non Alcoholic Drinks: Green Tea from Asda, www.asda.co.uk
Judges said: “Hugely refreshing and easy to drink with a delicate hint of lemon and mountain spring, leaving you thirsty for more. A treat for green tea aficionados.”

Prepared Foods: Pea and Mint Soup from Rod and Ben’s, www.rodandbens.com
Judges said: “Indistinguishable from good home-made, with the balance between pea and mint flavours just right. Great texture too.”

Store Cupboard Staples: Cyder Vinegar, Aspall, www.aspall.co.uk
Judges said: “Very gentle appley taste. True clean flavour, the apple wins through.”

Wine and Spirits: Sparkling Wine from Vintage Roots, www.vintageroots.co.uk
Judges said: “Bright and apply, yeasty palate good cava.”

Click here to see a full list including highly commended and commended products.

Source: Soil Association

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I have been a huge fan of Rude Health ever since I first discovered them at a Good Food Show a couple of years ago. My favourite has been their Ultimate Muesli and I’ve been treating myself to a bag every couple of months. I say ‘treat’ because it’s not cheap and although its really good for me, I think of it as a bit of an indulgence.

So Dave and I went shopping a little while ago and it was my ‘treat’ time but when I reached the place where the Rude Health products live, the shelves were bare. I was disappointed but thought they may have run out and thought nothing more of it. On a more recent shopping trip, again I went straight to the usual place to find my treat and yet again Rude Health was nowhere to be seen. I admit it, I was upset, I REALLY look forward to my Ultimate muesli and I feared that Rude Health was no more!

I got home, fired-up the laptop and immediately clicked on the Rude Health website to find out what the hell was going on! Then it all became clear…”See, they’re just re-vamping” Dave said. Oh the relief! I know it seems sad that a grown woman should be so concerned about muesli but you see, since the IBS diagnosis, so many foods I loved and enjoyed are now prohibited to me and not only are Rude Health products safe for me to eat , I also absolutely adore them! The idea that they might be gone forever was truly horrible.

To my delight, Rude Health is just undergoing an exciting overhaul, including new packaging, a revamped brand image and new products (all of the products are still organic, wheat-free and contain no added salt and sugar).

The new packaging is really eye catching and the bag is biodegradable within a recyclable cardboard box. The new addition to the muesli family is No Flamin’ Raisins – the first widely available, organic muesli to be completely free from raisins, currants and sultanas. Rude Health developed the product after research revealed that 30% of people either don’t like raisins or would prefer not to have them in their breakfast cereals.

Personally I have nothing against raisins but No Flamin’ Raisins has mangoes, apricots, apples, almonds, Brazil nuts and dates instead… and it is so delicious you can’t help forgetting about raisins all together!

Now the colder weather is on the way I know I’m going to want warming-up in the mornings so next I’m going to try the Morning Glory porridge, it sounds fantastic with all sorts of grains and seeds added to make it smooth but crunchy.

If you haven’t discovered Rude Health yet, keep an eye out for the new range and give them a try, and don’t forget to let me know what you think!

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Sales of organic produce have soared as we have become more health and environmentally conscious over the last decade. Consumers are more concerned with eating healthily and ethical  practices than ever before and this has seen organic and fair-trade produce gain enormous popularity.

However, in the news there is growing evidence of organic food sales dropping and claims that ‘going organic’ was just a fad, the fashionable thing to do. Now that we are in ‘the credit crunch’, people are turning their backs on more expensive organic varieties in favour of returning to more budget friendly products. Many of the reports I’ve read imply that money is all we care about, that the cheaper option will always win in the end.

I don’t agree, it’s not as black and white as that. Yes, you can’t deny the facts that organic sales are dropping and we are all suffering cash-strapped times. But I don’t believe we have changed our minds and no longer care about what we are putting into our mouths. I think many of us do not have an option, maintaining a 100% organic lifestyle is a costly dream, one we would love to achieve but simply cannot afford to do so.

Saying that buying-in to an organic lifestyle is a fad or something fashionable to do, is wrong in my opinion. A dictionary defines fad as “a temporary fashion, notion, manner of conduct, etc.” I don’t believe our opinions on health and ethical food issues is temporary, we are just as aware and conscious as always, wanting to do whatever we can. But how much we able to do has changed financially and we are now having to re-think our priorities.

For most of us money will always be at the top, it is the key to our survival and actually being able to put a nutritious meal on the table is more important than where the ingredients came from. But that does not mean we don’t worry about it. Now-a-days, a food shopping trip is a minefield of guilt for us, we look at everything we’re buying, justifying whether it must be organic or is the cheaper option kind of ok on the ethical front? We end up over-riding our ethical consciousness on many items, dismissing guilty feelings in order to achieve an affordable bill at the till.

So, ‘going organic’ is not about being fashionable or following a fad, it is not a temporary phenomenon. We are not any less ethically aware and any less caring, we just can’t afford it. These things go in cycles and no doubt, when the economy is on the up again, people will be able to afford more organic produce and sales will increase once more.

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