At last week’s London Markets Symposium, Rosie Boycott told delegates from more than 20 London boroughs, as well as food groups and markets of all descriptions that wholesale markets are key to the London Food Strategy.
Boycott, the recently appointed chair of London Food, as part of Mayor Boris Johnson’s attempt to help improve Londoners’ access to healthy, locally-produced and affordable food, outlined the size of the six wholesale markets involved with London Markets Month. Between them, they are home to 685 companies, employ more than 9,000 people and have a combined turnover of around £2.1 billion. “We want to use the markets as hubs, so that sustainable food can reach as many people as possible,” she said.
“There has been a lot of debate about the consolidation of markets [into composite sites]. Personally, I am in favour of it. I know it’s politically sensitive, but we have to look at all the ways we transport food and the use of carbon and oil, amongst other things.”
Boycott added that Johnson is “passionate” in his belief that markets have an important role to play in London life. Not only should markets contribute, they should expand, she said. “Boris is aware of the social vibrancy and cohesion markets offer, as well as the supply of good, affordable, locally-sourced food.
“Fresh, seasonal, local food is not just a concern of the middle classes,” said Boycott. “It is not about how expensive it is, but interplay and personal relationships.” She added that markets are the antidote to the “anonymity in supermarkets.
“Street markets play an enormous role in the economy and are very much a part of London. They support regeneration as well as touching all of our lives. But we have sacrificed them, let them go, and we need to do whatever we can to get them back.”
Increasing competition and consumers demanding value for money mean that the occasional pitch is going to be vacated, said Boycott. “With our help and support, I think that trend can be reversed,” she said.
The commitment to source more local food for Londoners has seen development managers placed at Borough, New Covent Garden and Western International to date.
“Rising food prices are putting pressure on food suppliers. Developing a really good local food structure will make us more secure,” said Boycott. She added that the food chain is “fragile” at the moment, and that bringing food in from places such as New Zealand “cannot in the long-term give us food security and a sustainable supply chain”.
“There are 44 million tonnes of carbon emissions in London every year and a significant proportion of that is [down to] food,” she said. “If everyone consumed resources as we do in London, we would need three planets to survive.”
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