CPRE undertook a major research project to map local food webs across the country. The research, Mapping Local Food Webs, confirmed that despite being critical to the health of our high streets, local economies, and much loved patchwork landscapes, local food networks are under-recognised and poorly supported in local and national policies.

CPRE is keen to challenge the myth that local food is always more expensive, and call for a change to the status quo and ask on our shops and supermarkets to promote and stock local food and give a fair price to the farmers. Local food shops should be put at the centre of reinvigorating our high streets.

We’re urging supermarket chains to be ambitious by supporting local food and building relationships with more producers. We want supermarkets not yet engaged with many local farmers or producers to change their approach.

The Government manifesto proposed a 25 year plan ‘to grow more, buy more and sell more British food’. This is a great aspiration, nonetheless, without an action plan to deliver this goal it will not be realised. We will continue to work to ensure this plan becomes a reality. We call on our supporters to hold the Government to account on this promise, and encourage you to consider buying more local foods.