Good food can be found close to home

At this time of year, there is a wide selection of vegetables in season.

Even so, many vegetables travel unnecessary distances.

Imagine how shocked I was to see onions from New Zealand!

Onions are grown in Western Europe for most of the year, so why is it necessary to fly them over 12,000 miles to stock a supermarket in this country?

Apples are not quite in season yet, but consumer demand for apples dictates that they are available and have been imported from South Africa, New Zealand, Chile and the United States.

Next time you buy an apple, ask yourself whether it is necessary to bring it half way round the world.

Supermarkets claim to be satisfying demand, but do they actually create the demand by providing these fruits and vegetables all year round?

The best way to contribute to the local economy and reduce the amount of unnecessary transport of produce is buy locally produced meat and vegetables.

Local produce is at its best right now, and is being celebrated nationally during British Food Fortnight (28th September 28 to October 8) and locally through the West Sussex Food and Drink Festival (September 9 to October 8).

There are a number of markets specialising in local produce in Worthing, Arun and Adur.

These include the Women's Institute market in Durrington, held every Thursday at the Church Hall, New Road, between 10am and 11am for the last 30 years.

The market sells locally baked pies and cakes, vegetables, fruit, chutneys, jams and even seeds.

Each item sold carries the producer's name and postcode, so you can be confident that it was produced locally.

On September 25 is a special event promoting the use of apples (call 01903 200436 for further details).

Farmers markets are also held in Arundel, Worthing, Steyning and Shoreham on a regular basis.

Arundel markets are held on the first Thursday and second Saturday of each month, Worthing on the fourth Saturday of each month, Steyning on the first Saturday of the month and Shoreham on the second Saturday of the month.

There are also numerous farm shops, butchers and fishmongers who all specialise in local produce.

Of course certain fruits and vegetables cannot be grown in this country, and yet are considered to be staple to the modern diet.

Bananas, oranges, pineapples and peaches are all part of the wonderful array of fruit available at this time of year, yet cannot be grown in this country due to the unreliability of the climate.

But where fruit or vegetables are grown in the UK, try not to buy similar produce that has been imported from other parts of the world. Best of all, stick to fruits and vegetables that are in season.

This will help cut down on the number of miles food travels to reach your plate and help stimulate the local economy.