For today's G2, Tom Moggach provides a round-up of some of the food cooperatives that have been springing up around the UK offering a more ethical and affordable option to supermarket chains.
Moggach writes:
The concept, of course, is far from new, but it's proving increasingly popular. "Interest is definitely growing," says John Atherton of Co-operatives UK, an organisation that supports cooperative enterprise across Britain. "We're seeing rising numbers of buying groups and community shops. It's a trend that is set to continue."
The motivations are many: fears about food security; food inflation; the power of supermarkets; the bruised image of capitalism; a lost sense of community.
His survey covers the Bristolian Food For All, a Welsh project where produce is distributed in a church in the Rhondda Valley and a personal favourite, Unicorn in Manchester, which is a real hub of Chorlton's community.
But there are many more inspiring projects out there in schools, yards and parks, and we want to hear about such schemes near you. Do share ...
