Hampshire Fare - What does ‘local’ actually mean? - Yahoo News UK

Is it something produced within a few miles of where we live? Something made somewhere in Hampshire? Or simply something bought from an independent business in our local community?

The answer isn't always straightforward and perhaps that's what makes 'local' so interesting.

This year, Hampshire Fare celebrates its 35th anniversary. For three and a half decades, our purpose has been to champion Hampshire's food, drink and craft businesses and encourage people to discover, buy and enjoy more of what is grown, produced and made here.

But through my work with hundreds of local businesses, I've come to appreciate that 'local' is about much more than geography.

It is about people.

When you buy from a Hampshire grower, baker, cheesemaker or producer, you aren't simply buying a product.

You are supporting the person who grew or made it, along with the businesses and jobs connected to them.

That money has the opportunity to circulate within our local economy.

A producer may use a local accountant, printer, designer, engineer, packaging company or delivery business.

A restaurant buying Hampshire produce supports both the producer and its own local supply chain.

There is also food miles and seasonality to consider.

Buying locally produced food doesn't automatically mean it has the smallest environmental footprint, but shorter supply chains can reduce transportation.

Choosing food that is naturally in season can make a difference too and seasonal food is often fresher, tastes better and, when plentiful, can be better value.

Then there is connection.

When you know where your food has come from, you understand more about the people behind it. You can visit a farm, meet a producer at a market, ask a cheesemaker how their cheese is made or discover which grapes are grown in a Hampshire vineyard.

And local doesn't have to mean buying directly from the producer.

Hospitality and retail businesses play a vital role too.

A pub serving locally brewed beer, a restaurant putting Hampshire vegetables on its menu, a hotel buying local cheese or a shop stocking Hampshire products all help connect producers with consumers.

At Hampshire Fare, we see this every day. Our members range from farmers, growers and food producers to vineyards, breweries, restaurants, farm shops, retailers and hospitality businesses. We bring these businesses together, champion what they do and help consumers discover them.

Our annual Local Produce Guide is one way we do this, helping people find the businesses, products and places on their doorstep.

But there is another side to 'local' that is just as important: getting Hampshire out of Hampshire.

Supporting local doesn't mean keeping our incredible businesses within the county.

We want Hampshire producers to be proud of where they come from and ambitious about where they can go.

A Hampshire cheese on a London restaurant menu, a local drink stocked by a national retailer or Hampshire produce reaching customers further afield raises the profile of our county while bringing valuable income back into our local economy.

For me, local provenance and ambition go hand in hand.

So next time you're shopping, eating out or choosing a gift, don't just ask whether something is local. Ask: Who made it? Where did it come from? Is there a local alternative? And what difference could my purchase make?

You don't have to buy everything locally. None of us can. But small choices, made by lots of people, can have a big collective impact.

Because 'local' isn't just a place.

It is people, provenance, connection and a community with ambition.