There is no simple silver bullet that will fix the food chain. But we have identified a range of policy solutions which together will achieve real change. We are also encouraging local shops and markets which offer people a wide choice of local sourced produce.

For further information on our solutions to fixing the food chain, go to the national Friends of the Earth website.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth believe that to provide a real alternative to the supermarkets we need to ensure that we shoppers have access to vibrant town centres with a diversity of shops. We need corner shops in urban areas and village shops in rural areas – not owned by supermarkets – where people can do ‘top-up’ shopping. We need thriving street markets selling fresh fruit and vegetables, and admittedly we probably need some smaller scale supermarkets where people can do their weekly food shop.

We want all kinds of smaller chains and independent shops to be able to stay in business – from the specialist cheese shop to your local corner shop. Supermarkets have set their sites on taking over convenience stores– we think there’s a big potential for these kinds of shops to bring local food to more people – so its important to help them stay independent. It can be a bit confusing to work out just how independent your local corner shop is.

Farmers Markets

Around the Birmingham area, we have many farmer markets that are growing in popularity:
Birmingham University: 4th Wednesday of the month 9am-2pm
Harborne: 2nd Saturday of the month 9am-2pm
Kings Heath: 1st Saturday of the month 9am-3:30pm
Kings Norton: 2nd Saturday of the month 9am-2pm
Moseley: 4th Saturday of the month 9am-3pm
New Street: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 10am-4pm
Solihull: 1st Friday of the month 9am-5pm
Sutton Coldfield: 2nd Friday of the month 9am-3pm
Jewellery Quarter: 3rd Saturday of the month 10am-3pm

Birmingham Friends of the Earth are supporting various Grow Site projects throughout Birmingham, most recently the Tenby Cottages Community Garden Group.  Grow sites are areas of undeveloped urban land which have been transformed into sites where local residents can grow their own food.  These areas are often places which were previously known to attract antisocial activity, but once up and running they provide a area which locals can take pride in, and ultimately benefit from.  Similar initiatives have already been set up around Birmingham, such as Edible Erdington and GEML (Grow It, Eat It, Move It, Live It).

Friends of the Earth are supporting Rob Flello MP's Sustainable Livestock Bill, which calls for improvements to be made to the sustainability of all processes involved with livestock farming in the UK.  Factory farming in Britain is causing the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest due to increasing demands for growing soy for use as animal feed.  The bill goes to its second reading at the House of Commons on November 12th 2010, and requires 100 MPs to actively support it for the Bill to become law.  Find out how you can get involved here.