As a UK-based Sustainable Food Blogger, I help people make small, practical changes to their eating habits that add up to a big impact. With food responsible for nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, eating sustainably is one of the most powerful ways to cut carbon footprints and tackle the climate crisis.
The UK is facing growing challenges—from climate change and food insecurity to global supply chain disruptions. Now more than ever, we must shift towards a resilient, locally grown planet-friendly food system.
Bringing People Together Through Farmers’ Markets
As chair of my local church Eco group, we’re keen to help people access locally grown food. Hosting a farmers market is an excellent opportunity to showcase that. A farmers’ market is one of the best ways to:
🌱 Support local producers and showcase their incredible work.
🌱 Create a vibrant community space where people can connect over food.
🌱 Make sustainable eating an easy, enjoyable choice for more people.
Promoting local, ethically grown, planet-friendly food aligns with our Christian values of caring for creation and ensuring a world where everyone can thrive. Helping people recognise the impact our industrialised food systems have on the climate emergency is part of our mission as we work and pray for a sustainable future for everyone.
Making the Connection Between Food, the Planet and Personal Health
Many people don’t immediately connect what’s on their plate with the wider environmental and societal impacts. Sometimes these issues can seem distant so helping people connect on a personal level and understand how a sustainable diet is also good for their own health, is an important part of the conversation. Through my work, I’ve seen this first-hand. But I’ve also witnessed how quickly people want to be part of the solution once they understand the impact of their choices.
Boosting Local Producers & Reconnecting People with Real Food
Every time I explore my local area, I’m amazed by the incredible small-scale food producers working hard to bring fresh, ethical, and high-quality food to our communities. But two key challenges stand in the way:
1️. Visibility – Getting their produce in front of more people.
2️. Understanding – Helping consumers recognise the difference between industrially produced supermarket food and ethically grown, local food.
Farmers’ markets and community food hubs offer one solution, bringing small producers together in one space, making it easier for people to shop sustainably. When fresh, local food becomes more accessible, more visible, and more convenient, people naturally start to shift their buying habits.
Reconnecting with Seasonal Eating
When people rediscover the vibrant flavours of fresh, seasonal food, it’s a game-changer. It tastes better, supports local farmers, and reduces food miles. The challenge is rebuilding that connection—helping people see that eating in tune with the seasons is not a restriction, but an opportunity to enjoy food at its very best.
Building for the future through Sustainable Food
A strong, local, sustainable food system does more than nourish individuals—it builds and protects our futures :
✔ Protecting land, biodiversity, climate, farmers and communities.
✔ Supporting small businesses and keeping money in the local economy.
✔ Promoting healthier eating habits and improving health outcomes.
Bio
Claire Carter is a Sustainable Food Blogger with a global audience. She creates seasonal recipes focusing on ethically sourced planet-friendly food and blogs about the impact food has on the climate emergency.
Find her at www.therealmealdeal.com
Better Food Traders is currently collaborating with the Church of England and a number of dioceses as part of our work to strengthen routes to market for sustainable food, and help rebuild our regional food systems. We are particularly interested in supporting churches to use their buildings and churchyards to host farmers’ markets or food hubs.
CASE STUDY The oldest and largest fully Organic farmers’ market in the UK is the Growing Communities market held every Saturday 10am to 2.30pm at St Paul’s Church, Stoke Newington, NE London. It supports 20 small-scale, climate-friendly farmers and producers – almost all within 70 miles of London.
- Every £1 spent on food at the farmers’ market generates £3.70 in benefits for local people, the farmers and the planet (New Economics Foundation report).
- The market attracts a diverse crowd, some 40% of whom have been visiting us for at least 5-10 years.
- The market is good for your mental health. In a recent survey they found that three-quarters of people visiting the market (76%) say they are happier after their visit than when they arrive, compared with just 5% of shoppers at a local supermarket.
If you would like to learn more about hosting a farmers’ market at your church, please email Melissa at Better Food Traders – melissa@betterfoodtraders.org. You can also join the Better Food Traders network to access resources and peer-learning groups on setting up your own market.