The groundswell of interest in renewing the country’s food culture is central to the recovery of our environment and our communities, according to the National Trust in a new report.
The report, Appetite for Change, shares the progress the National Trust has made in supporting farm tenants by sourcing sustainably produced, local and seasonal food for its 150 restaurants and cafes.
It also shows the ways that the Trust is helping engage people in the ‘story’ of their food and how promoting its heritage and provenance is enriching food culture and supporting community action, particularly around growing their own.
Rebecca Speight, the charity’s food ‘champion’ and director for the National Trust’s East Midlands region, said: “Food is much more than we eat. It shapes our lives - our health and wellbeing, our culture, our natural environment, our security and prosperity.
“Food is a true measure of our approach to life itself, as individuals and as a society. Food has become an anonymous commodity and we now need to connect people better with where and how their food is produced.
“In our experience, producing and preparing sustainable, local and seasonal food is not easy but it is vitally important. We need to avoid the anonymous food which is produced at the expense of our environment, culture and a healthy diet.
“By harnessing the green shoots of a food revival and nurturing the farmers, cooks and suppliers who provide healthy, affordable, sustainable food we can renew our culture and values for the benefit of everyone.”
Appetite for Change looks ahead to the challenges of climate change and the depletion of natural resources to suggest issues in sustainability and food culture facing the government, businesses and society.
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