In a stark pre-Christmas message, Green MEP Caroline Lucas warned that your Christmas dinner probably travelled around 30,000 miles this festive period before ending up on your plate. It is entirely possible that your European turkey, African vegetables, Australian wine and American cranberry sauce will have stacked up enough miles to circumnavigate the globe.
Ms Lucas, a member of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee said, "There is simply no need to eat mange tout from Zimbabwe. The thoughtless sourcing of produce is contributing significantly to the aviation industry's greenhouse gas emissions and the extension of monoculture farming. Ingredients for a traditional Christmas dinner are in season in the UK right now - that's why they are traditionally eaten at Christmas."
The MEP and author of the European Parliament report called Stopping the Great Food Swap added, "African farmers are paying a high social and environmental price for switching traditional production to inappropriate cash crops geared for western markets, but seeing few of the financial benefits. By eating locally grown produce we can enjoy fresher, tastier food, support our local economies and cut out some of the greenhouse gas emissions produced as these vegetables are flown around the world."
