Food
 Food has obvious connections with the environment, yet how often do we stop and think of the environmental consequences of how food is grown, processed, packaged and distributed, and how any associated waste is disposed of?
The choices we make when buying and growing food can affect the quality of the environment in our gardens, our neighbourhoods and around the world. For example, we could choose organic or Fairtrade foods. We could choose to grow some of our own food, ideally without the use of peat. We could choose between buying prepared, packaged vegetables from far away or locally produced, seasonal fruits and vegetables and then composting our kitchen waste to help nourish our gardens
A recent study into the ecological footprint of Nottinghamshire residents showed that our food and drink consumption had the single largest impact on the size of our footprint - a measure of the demands we place on the earth's natural resources. Hence buying local food and growing your own can play a big part in conserving natural resources and tackling the causes of climate change.
Nottinghamshire County Council is a partner in a local food group called FIG (the Food Initiatives Group). The FIG website: www.foodfig.org.uk contains a wealth of information on environmental and health issues related to food, details of local projects, links to key food websites and more.
Organic and local producers
 There is a wealth of outlets in and around Nottinghamshire where you can buy local produce, some of which is grown to organic standards. These include farm shops, butchers, local markets, tea shops and farmers markets. Many of these outlets are listed in a publication, Notts Nosh, which is a directory of over 50 establishments selling locally produced food or drink, based in and around the county.To order your copy, tel: 0115 977 4222 or download a copy from the panel to the right.
Up to date details of farmers markets in the county are contained on the FIG website and can also be obtained by calling tel: 01623 882 200.
Healthy Eating
Statistics show that up to a third of deaths from cancer and heart disease could be prevented by better diet. The promotion of healthy eating is therefore important in reducing the risk of both cancer and coronary heart disease. Diet also plays an important role in other chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
Fairtrade Products
 Some of our most popular foods need to be grown in hotter climates in areas of the developing world, including bananas (the UK's favourite fruit), tea, coffee and cocoa. Unfortunately, the people who grow the food often receive very little for it and live and work in poor conditions. When commodity prices fall, many of them are forced into crippling debt and countless others lose their land and their homes.
 Nottinghamshire consumers may feel powerless to influence such global events, but simply by choosing a different brand of tea or coffee for the breakfast table, they can support a better alternative: Fairtrade. To find out more about Fairtrade, see the Fairtrade Foundation website: www.fairtrade.org.uk.
Links to useful websites
The FIG website has an excellent range of information and additional links, see: www.foodfig.org.uk
The Fairtrade Foundation website has details about Fairtrade products and where they can be purchased at: www.fairtrade.org.uk
The Soil Asociation has details of what organic food and farming is all about: www.soilassociation.org
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