The Fair Miles report produced by Oxfam and the International Institute for Environment and Development has been welcomed as a step towards encouraging UK consumers to consume a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, irrespective of their country of origin, and to be reassured that their food choices are ethical and sustainable.

Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), said: “We welcome the Fair Miles report, which recognises FPC’s work to highlight the complexities of the food supply chain and its social, political and economic repercussions, and sensibly aims to capture the true impact of food production and consumption.

“We need to tackle climate change, but the concept of ‘food miles’ is confusing. Let’s look at the carbon footprint of the whole product supply chain and provide consumers with robust advice with which to make informed decisions.

"Research shows that some imported fruit and vegetables are grown in less greenhouse-gas intensive ways than the same products in the UK, with savings from greater efficiency outweighing the potential negative impacts of additional transport. There is no need to restrict choice by excluding imported produce on the basis of its carbon footprint. We can enjoy a wide variety of fresh produce all year round, irrespective of its origin. The consumption of fruit and vegetables accounts for only 2.5 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in total."

The Fair Miles report considers the ethical dimension of trade in fresh produce between developing countries and the UK, which is often neglected within the ‘food miles’ debate. Agricultural growth is essential to economic growth in Africa; imports to the UK from Kenya alone are worth £100 million, with trade providing direct employment for 135,000 people. There is no evidence that fewer aircraft would fly if less imported fruit and vegetables were eaten, as at least 60 per cent of airfreighted fresh produce is brought to the UK in the bellyhold of passenger aircraft. Total airfreighted imports of fruit and vegetables account for 0.2 per cent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions.

Jenney added: “There are massive variations between the carbon footprint of Africa (1-2 tonnes of carbon per head) and that of the UK (11-14t per head) and the US (22t per head). We must put ill-founded concerns about the impact of transportation of fresh produce from developing countries in their proper perspective, and balance them against the need to address rising obesity levels and poor diets across Europe, as well as assisting the development of local economies in Africa. To encourage the UK consumer to eat 5 A DAY we need a wide variety of fresh produce regardless of origin or means of transport.”

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