Food In A Climate Crisis

Perhaps we have all grown a bit complacent, but it's becoming clear that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat — it's right on our doorsteps.

Earlier this month it was reported that we had just experienced the wettest 18 months since records began and predictions of extreme weather across the UK this year will escalate a growing crisis on our farms.

An unprecedented rainfall at the start of the year has already had a major effect on the lamb season with the waterlogged ground making it difficult for sheep to access the nutrients they need, and posing a heightened risk of hypothermia for newborn lambs. Those looking for a lamb joint for their Easter table were likely to have had to look to New Zealand and other countries for an imported lamb joint.

The story is similar for arable farms, where wheat crops are expected to plummet by a quarter due to flooding and soil saturation. 

In a cruel twist of irony this will increasingly push UK shoppers to rely more heavily on imported goods, perpetuating a cycle of environmental harm.

So what can we as shoppers do?

Shop seasonally

Shopping in an environmentally responsible way does mean that your food choices may be limited to what’s in season. Instead of purchasing imported avocados, which require long-distance transportation and contribute to higher carbon emissions, you might choose locally grown kale, which is rich in folate and readily available during its peak season. By doing so, you not only support local farmers but also reduce the environmental impact associated with food transportation. We are sure that only enjoying strawberries during their peak summer growing season makes them taste all the sweeter. There are so many wonderful local grown varieties of fruit and veg that will never make it to the supermarket shelves, support local farmer’s markets or farming cooperatives veg box schemes to try the best of each season. 

Eat less meat

It might seem unusual for an organic meat company to suggest eating less meat. However, as a nation, our meat consumption has steadily risen, shifting from a perceived luxury to a daily staple. In the UK, we now consume twice as much protein as necessary driving the rise of environmentally harmful industrial farming to meet demand. We advocate for eating less meat but choosing better – and that means organic.

Choose less popular cuts

We value every part of the animals our organic farmers raise, so we operate a nose-to-tail philosophy in our butchery. We want you to fall in love with the lesser-known cuts that we think are full of flavour and unfairly overlooked, which is why you will find everything from offal to bone broths in our range. Using the whole animal reduces wastage and lessens the environmental impact of our meat production. 

Shop organic

Intensive farming methods produce food that is not only nutritionally poor but also extremely detrimental to the environment and our natural resources, and is a key driver of climate change, whilst organic farming embraces nature with strict policies and standards governing the way crops and livestock are farmed which minimises environmental impact as much as possible.

Support local farmers

Shoppers are increasingly concerned about where and how their food is produced and choosing local suppliers helps foster that direct connection between farm and fork. Support farmers who are invested in the biodiversity and resilience of your local area by prioritising locally grown and produced goods. Look for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) schemes near you that allow you to buy directly from farms in your area.

Advocate for change

Use your voice and your buying power to advocate for policies and initiatives that support sustainable agriculture and combat climate change. Whether it's through supporting local initiatives or engaging with policymakers, every action counts in the fight for a more sustainable future.