Fresh, affordable and locally produced food is essential to our well-being. Our food system puts at risk our health, farm animals, the rural economy and the whole planet.

Supermarkets exploit farmers and increase the distance food travels from farm to table, increasing air pollution and global warming. Oil shortages or price rises and global conflicts could make food scarce within weeks. We must plan for such a possibility.

We need a different approach to producing food that places more value on viable family farms, sustainably produced food and the landscape.

In Sheffield

Affordable, sustainably produced, fresh and locally grown food is beyond the reach of most in Sheffield. Fairly traded food and local food initiatives are often swamped by the corporate food industry.

Supermarkets have an effective monopoly over the food market. Jamie Oliver's school meal ideas have raised awareness of the dire state of our diets. Obesity levels and poor nutrition continue to grow.

Junk food advertising and health-damaging vending machines are in many public places and buildings. Schools and local community centres are losing their facilities to cook decent meals.

Sheffield Farmers’ Market is struggling to survive and the rural economy is in crisis. Allotment holders are hampered by a lack of fresh thinking. Genetically Modified food is unwanted, yet commercial pressures are forcing it into our diet.

What we have done so far:

• Exposed in the media the “cheap as chips ” scandal where some caterers were paying 22p per school meal.
• Raised the problems faced by allotment holders on local radio.
• Taken part in the launch of the Sheffield City Green Food Map.
• Pushed Fair Trade status for Sheffield.

As Green City Councillors we will:

• Work with food campaign group Sustain to reduce food poverty. This organisation promotes access for all to local food shopping.
• Support local retailers and try to curb the power of supermarkets.
• Support the Soil Association's "Food for Life Targets” to get fresh, seasonal, local and organic ingredients into school meals. Extend this into hospitals, care homes, council facilities and prisons.
• Campaign for Sheffield Farmers Market to be in the City Centre and operate regularly on a Saturday.
• Work to highlight the continuing problems faced by independent family farms though the campaign group Farm and the Peak District Rural Deprivation Forum.
• Support local and regional producers and investigate the case for a South Yorkshire sustainable food logistics centre.
• Promote gardening and allotments.