In search of ethical food markets...

I love markets, I really do. And any kind of market too. Farmers markets, street markets - but normally the ones selling food are my favourite. There is something magical about the aromas of fresh bread and homemade burgers served with a friendly smile and an interesting story behind the table. When I got lost on my way to Hoxton and stumbled across Whitecross Street as the vendors were unpacking their wares, I found myself in foodie heaven.

The food was a combination of local and / or organic but mostly the focus was on the deliciousnous factor (with a good read thrown in). Ever since my adventures with local food economies in the writing of my thesis and working on agreencafe at the SI, I have been more and more interested in ethical and earth friendly food systems. Markets sure are amazing, but for are many of us are more of a weekend excursion then a stable pantry fuller and perhaps consider it too expensive as well. Maybe markets can full a bigger role in our food purchasing habits, if we take the time to think about our meals and what we are supporting. See some of Anri's interesting investigations on this here.

Another discovery in Whitecross Street was "fix", a side street coffee shop.

"Fix loves you!" as well as "sustainably produced coffee, organic milk, free wifi, chai tea latte, banana frappe, toasted stuff (mhmm) and vegan stuff". The inside was just as funky and cool, but certainly more of an indulgence (and a lovely one at that) than a staple. Where to then for our staples?

I had heard of the Cooperative Food store before and when finally on the right road to Hoxton I came across one, I couldn't help but wander in. My understanding had been that it was owned by the customers who shared in the work of running the store and get discount prices by buying directly from the farmers and sharing the savings by reducing the prices for members. So, this wasn't entirely the case but knowing how I collect and construct information it may be an entirely different Cooperative Food that I was thinking of.

Have a look at the website yourself here, which does seem to have all the trimmings of an ethical supplier. The facts don't quite add up though, with prices being the same if not more than other standard retailers in the UK, the membership benefits not amounting to much in real terms and a large range of typical products alongside an admittedly decent range of Fair Trade and / or organic produce. What benefits are really going to the consumer, and to what extent are the farmers really benefiting? How much better for the environment is this type of 'ethical' retailer? I have more questions than answers on this one for now.

Ethical and earth friendly? Well, not entirely. Maybe the starting point is a passion for good food (something the Italians know a thing about), and then figure out what local combination suits your conscience, pocket and schedule best. I cant help but thinking that building better relationships with our food (and the quality there of) as well as our relationships with the entire system involved in getting it to us is the place to start.