Date: 31/01/2008
Environmentally-aware shoppers can satisfy their palates and their pockets, as well as their conscience, when they shop at eco-friendly, award-winning Wild Carrot in Buxton.
For, the Bridge Street workers' co-operative puts a strong emphasis on stocking natural, organic and additive-free goods that are ethically produced, yet sold at competitive prices.
"We offer everything from traditionally-made bread, home-baked goods and organic fruit and vegetables to environmentally-friendly cleaning products and natural beauty care," said workers' co-operative member, Cath Johnstone (pictured with locally sourced honey and cake). "Ethics are important to us, so we stock lots of fair trade goods. Everything is suitable for vegetarians, and nothing is genetically modified.
"We are also very aware of food miles. Wherever possible, we try to use local suppliers, or at least ones that are based in the UK, and none of our fruit and vegetables are air-freighted, so customers can be sure we do all we can to be as environmentally-friendly as possible.
"There's also a misconception that using local shops is more expensive, but that's not always the case, especially with businesses like ours. When you come to a shop like this, you tend to buy exactly what you need, whereas if you go to bigger shops there's always the temptation to buy more."
Soil Association-certified and a holder of the Peak District National Park's prestigious Environmental Quality Mark, Wild Carrot illustrates how shopping locally can help save the environment - one of the key features of High Peak Borough Council's current 'Shop Smart, Shop Local' campaign.
Members of the co-operative also practice what they preach, by re-using and recycling packaging, composting organic waste and making efficient use of energy and water, including a 100 per cent renewable energy supply.
Locally-sourced products include quiches from Buxton, cakes and savouries from Youlgrave and honey from Longnor. Organic fruit and vegetables come mainly from Lancashire and Lincolnshire, and are a popular draw when delivered to the shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Organic fruit and vegetable boxes are made up for collection or delivery on both days. Customers choose the value of their box, and the split between fruit and vegetables, and can specify what they don't like and can even add extras, ranging from eggs to organic wine and beer.
Where possible, Wild Carrot prefers customers to pick up their box from the shop, but deliveries are also made to Leek, Longnor and Monyash on Tuesdays, Tideswell, Bradwell, the Hope Valley, Grindleford and Calver on Wednesdays, and Buxton on Fridays.
"Supporting local shops is vital to retain diversity in Buxton," added Cath. "If people don't, they will close, and the town will lose its distinctiveness. We live in a beautiful place, so why fill it full of national chain stores?
"It's also better for the environment, because people don't have to travel so far, and better for the local economy. Where there are local shops, there are also other services, such as vets and hairdressers, and it keeps a town vibrant. Local shops offer more choice, have the ability to respond to local people's needs and generally offer a better level of service than bigger shops, because they know their reputation and survival depend upon it. We are also more flexible, in that, if a customer comes in and asks for something specific, we will do our best to track it down and order it."
Peter Scott, of Buxton, has been a regular customer for 12 years, and shops at Wild Carrot twice a week for organic fruit and vegetables, other cooking ingredients and eco-friendly detergents, many of which he finds he can't source easily elsewhere.
"I came back to the UK after working abroad and found I didn't like the taste of anything, until I discovered Wild Carrot," he said. "The taste and quality of the food is excellent, and they pay great attention to things like food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare.
"The vegetables are so tender and fresh, they cook in half the time that other produce normally takes. I buy all manner of ingredients for cooking, such as gluten-free flour, organic semolina, juniper berries and unusual herbs and spices, and if there's something I need that they don't happen to stock, they'll do their utmost to get it for me. Supporting local shops is important because it maintains choice and variety for the customer, and it would be very sad if Buxton were to lose such a unique and wonderful shop."
The 'Shop Smart, Shop Local' campaign in the Buxton and Central areas of High Peak aims to promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of supporting local businesses. As part of the campaign, customers can collect a sticker each time they buy something in a participating shop and stick it on a passport.
Passports are available from shops taking part in the campaign, all High Peak Borough Council offices or in the current, Winter issue of the Council's Connect magazine.
When one of the sections on the passport is full, it can be entered into a monthly prize draw if handed in at Buxton, Chapel, New Mills and Whaley Bridge Town Halls, Glossop Municipal Buildings, or posted to High Peak Borough Council, Hayfield Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith SK23 0QJ. Monthly prize draws will take place from now until March 2008.
Further information about the campaign, including tool kits full of marketing and promotional ideas and ways to encourage people to spend in local shops, are available from Helen Pakpahan, economic development officer, on 0845 129 7777, or email customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk.