The Soil Association is holding a free open seminar in Swindon to explore the potential of large-scale consumer buying groups.

As part of the first ever Co-operative Fortnight, which celebrates people working together to achieve strong communities and good businesses, the Soil Association is hosting an open seminar to give consumers, producers, wholesalers, retailers and community groups look at the subject.

The seminar aims to raise awareness of how consumers can work together in buying groups to enable greater access to fresh, local, ethically produced food at affordable prices, and provide a secure market to local farmers.

The event will include case studies from buying groups and food co-ops around the world, including a speaker from GAS in Italy as well as UK speakers include Suma Wholefoods and Somerset Organic Link.

In the past 10 years there has been considerable growth in the local food sector with organic box schemes, farmers’ markets, farm shops and more recently community supported agriculture.

However, volumes of local food traded are still relatively small, as is the size of the farms and holdings involved.

In Europe and the US large-scale buying groups operate widely, with committed consumers coming together to buy food in bulk directly from producers.

Traci Lewis, organic buying groups project manager at the Soil Association who is leading the event, said:“Farmers have successfully co-operated across all sectors in order to survive, but once they reach a larger scale of production they are usually dependant on supermarkets for their customers. Public sector buyers and consumers have tremendous power to help achieve the resilient, vibrant local food economies we so desperately need which is why we are so keen to mobilise buying groups in the UK on a more significant scale."

The event takes place at the G W Restaurant & Hotel in Swindon on 1 July.

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