Ramsbottom Online

They’re not all bad…

I’m currently researching the whole ‘plastic bag free’ issue and will be writing a blog about that very soon. In the meantime, I intend to carry on doing what I’m doing (taking my collection of jute bags with me on my Saturday morning shop).

I’ve never professed to be whiter than white (or greener than green) when it comes to doing the shopping, and like most working people am guilty of the odd full-shop supermarket visit. You’re faced with an interesting dilemma now that Morrisons is here: apparently, they’re committed to selling British fresh produce (in some cases local too) and support initiatives such as sustainable fishing. Take a look at their website and they seem to have some very admirable values and targets when it comes to sustainability.

Can the same be said for the market? Check the crates, boxes and labels and you’ll see that much of the produce has been flown in from all over the world. But there’s plenty of local stuff, too. You’re also supporting smaller suppliers by shopping there. And you can come across some real seasonal finds like damsons and what are known locally as whinberries (Holcombe Hill is covered in them during late summer). As for the exotic stuff, I once read somewhere that if something isn’t in season (or grown in the UK) and you really want it, just buy it. Personally, I’m happy to give strawberries a miss in the winter.

I am, admittedly, only ‘green’ up to a point. The constraints of real life are always there. But I’ll continue to do the majority of my food shopping on Rammy market and visiting Tommy Topping or Valentine’s in Edenfield for meat – something which I’m convinced can’t be bettered by any supermarket.

My guilty pleasure is a (very) occasional visit to Booths – usually some time near Christmas. For the uninitiated, Booths is a chain of small supermarkets scattered throughout the Lakes and west and central Lancashire. If you’re a foodie you’ll get very excited – lots of local suppliers, British produce, specialist ingredients and delicious stuff like Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding. If you’re ever in Chorley or Clitheroe give them a try. They’re not cheap but the quality’s good, the food’s lovely and you’re guaranteed to come away with a full trolley, a lighter wallet and big plans for dinner.