Bye Bye Bellofoodbox

My beloved bellofoodbox has been a huge part of my life for the last year or two. Just a little background - it was started by a devoted band of volunteers to help promote the quality, affordable produce (with a preference for spray free or organic) that was grown locally (within 100 miles of Bellingen) for economic, social and environmental reasons. Since it started off, the success of buying local has been pretty incredible - instead of two and a half local outlets there are now six or seven and it was decided by the committee that bellofoodbox would best be operated by the Bellingen Green Grocer.

All in all this a great decision - BGG operates with similar ethics to bellofoodbox, has agreed to keep the markups the same (to ensure that the fruit and veg is really affordable), and being an actual shop front it will allow clients to either top up the produce in their boxes or to buy other local, sustainable products like milk or to just get a yummy juice. The down side (and the only one) is that they super little band of volunteers and our team leader Leigh, are going our separate ways so far as Wednesday afternoons are concerned.

So today was our last day all together. Which corresponded with my last day in town so it was bittersweet. Having said that, there was much laughter to be had. There was the usual pick of one or two strangely shaped items of produce - this one was an emoticon apple - turned up one way it had a huge smile, up the other was a sad face (no photo of that one, there are lots of weird fruit and vegetable shots out there), there was the inventive use of a damaged apple to  create an incense holder and open particular conversation the contents of which can't be posted here. There was also a couple of birthdays to celebrate. And that doesn't even include our incredible customers that come bouncing in to collect their bounty with a happy face, an interesting story or a quick joke.

On the downside, it was our last day together. While we work incredibly well together, in all circumstances, we are a disparate little group that don't usually see each other anywhere else - except random moments when driving around town followed by wild waves out a window which the other person may or may not see.

I know I am going to Tasmania so this would have been my last day anyway. I know that the changes are really, really good for the project. But, as I said, it was a bittersweet day.

When I announced I would be travelling south it was mentioned, as a throw away comment, that I need to start my own foodbox program in Tasmania. If it could be half as good as the experience I have had with our local one, I would be made not to.

So thank you, best of luck and farewell bellofoodbox and all who have sailed with here xx

Carbon Footprint Update

Now that I am no longer a "worker" in the traditional sense of the word I have just updated my carbon footprint details.

I am now emitting approximatley half a tonne of carbon each year ... well a little bit over: 0.53 tonnes. Now I could be cocky and say it is waaaaaaay under the average for Australia but it would still take 2 planets to support everyone if they lived like me.

I do buy at least 5 trees each year and only need to buy one to offset my emissions, so I am 8 trees in credit that way but next weekend I will need to buy an additional 5 trees to specifically offset my American trip from earlier in the year. Yes I could use my exisiting credits but I want to offset the trip separately.

So, I am happy with the results but there is still room for improvement. I was contemplating saving my shower water for use on the garden but that isn't really practical with my back being as it is so my goal is to increase my percentage of food bought with consideration to Food Miles and to further cut down my meat consumption.

Just an update .....

PS: I used both the 1degree calculator and the WWF one to come up with my totals.

New Challenge for Me

I don't have many food scraps - it wouldn't even fill a ice cream container - but I have realised that I do sometimes have to throw out food that I didn't use up in time. Prime example is 5 tomatoes that I had to throw out this morning.

There is no real excuse for this wastage - I mean I only shop every few days to buy for those days and I know a heap of recipes to turn (say) tomatoes into sauce that could have then be preserved.

I do have the advantage of having a Green Bin that is collected by the Council each week and is taken away to be composted but that isn't really the point.

So my new challenge to myself is to eliminate all but the absolutely necessary food scraps (peelings, bones and the like). To try and ensure that I have a maximum of 1 litre of food wastage each week.

My Name is Pearl and I am a Food Snob

I was listening to an interview about Food Snobs last night. Automatically I am thinking of those people who insist that high-style French cuisine is the only cuisine but as the interview progressed, I realize that I am one too (aaargh).

Example 1: one of my lovelies wanted a recipe for a chicken curry and my reaction was 'from what country' she answered, after asking me of her options to which I rattled off 10 or 12, 'India' and I asked ' which region'. She looked at me blankly. No I wasn't being a smart-arse, I was genuinely wondering what sort of curry she wants - especially as there are thousands of options available.

Example 2: At home I am a localvore (buying my food from a 100 mile radius), with the next preference being Buy Australian (counting food miles all the way). That also gets overlayed with ethical considerations including fair trade considerations, whether the product is organic, who will benefit from my purchase (say a region that is doing it tough, or a local owned-store v multinational) and, of course, whether the chocolate is slave free.

Example 3: I was looking at recipes and items like white balsamic vinegar are not only completely normal, but I have them in the pantry.

I also know I go on about real food v fake food (say bacon v a jar of bacon bits, or homemade mayonnaise v a jar of the fake stuff, or homemade pizza with weird toppings (like satay chicken) v the real original options) and blithely eliminate complaints of not prepared food like sweet and sour sauce with a "we make that ourselves" but I like to think that is based on cost and nutrition more than snobbery. Actually a night of sleeping on it makes me think it is about 50/50.

Okay I know when I am at work and doing the shopping the credo is "Value for Money" so we look at generics, specials and branded items. Every now and then I know I exclaim "I am not paying that!" to which my lovelies patiently explain it isn't my money we are spending. It just isn't the point - a rip off is a rip off! But there is hope, I can switch off between home standards and work standard.

So having acknowledged that I have crossed the line from foodie to food snob, please tell me I don't inflict that (too much) on those around me. Lie if you have to ...

Carbon Positive

I went to the Bellingen Plant Sale today and bought another 10 trees for someone else. They didn't have cedars this time but there was a good selection of revegetation options available. So that makes me flowing in carbon credits by a long way.

The guy at the stand remembered me and didn't look so quizzical this time. And, as a big buzz, I met the guy who got my cedars from six months ago:-) (just a fluke of both us of being there at the same time). I think he got a bit of a kick out of the whole thing and, as I was leaving, I heard the stall holder offering him some of the 10 trees I had just bought.

I also picked up tomatoes, tomatoes and tomatoes - 5 different sorts to be exact. It is a bit warm to plant them out at the moment so that will have to be something I do first thing about getting home in the morning.

Cut Finger

I am very proud that in all my years of cooking, and the occasional cut (slash and rip), I have never bled into the food.

Tonight I have kept my record intact. No, the picture isn't a shot if my finger - it is a bit worse than that. I am thinking a stitch wouldn't go astray but then I have always believed (with my vast medical knowledge) that if it only worth one stitch, then don't bother.

My cut, which was really a stab that hit the bone - and yes I felt that, is at the base of the finger near the knuckle - hence the hitting of the bone. And yes I deserve it, I was doing a stupid thing with my knife - trying to cut the serrations so I could open my bottle of balsamic vinegar (again serves me right for buying outside my 100 mile range).

The good thing is that there is no nerve damage, but typing is not a good thing at the moment (it's bleeding again). The other good things are that I have cleaned up the blood trail across the carpet and furniture (to the tissue box) and that I can use my home-made deodorant - sitting right there - as an antiseptic spray... And yes my knife was sharp so it is a lovely clean cut :-)

Another wild night with Mountaingirl I tell ya ....

Bulk Stuff

I have been sprouting my intention to be more green over the past few months. In many ways I feel I doing a good job of it, although there is always more I can do.

I have been waiting to use up my existing shampoo so I can swap to a more natural, home made product. Ditto for laundry powder. I have moved over to my home made deodorant and I use essential oils as a detangler. In amongst all of this (as well as being in transition to a more complete Food Miles philosophy) I realize I buy stuff.

As an example, I have three bottles of shampoo that I am working my way through. I have another two boxes of laundry powder to work through once I finish the one that is open. And today I have just found another 2 deodorant roll-ons.

It is similar with store foods like lentils and beans and don't even get me started on spices.

I don't know if I am waiting for a flood or something else that will cut me off for months at a time or what - I didn't even realize that I 'stocked up' like I obviously do.

So, as a status report, I am still working my way through my existing supplies ... it may take a while... sigh ....

New Deodorant

I have started to make my own deodorant as of today. Very simple really - some witch hazel with drops of sage and lavender added.

I am presently recycling a spritzer bottle which will do nicely for the moment.

It was a little strong for a few seconds but, surprisingly, it smells a little like a very light lemonade (I have had it on for the past few hours).

Most pleasant and, while I haven't run a marathon while wearing it, I am most satisfied to date.

Yippee!!

My hair has got to the stage where unless it is in two braids it mats within a couple of hours - and I am taking one big- scary- get- the- scissors knot. And while I am not the trendiest person around, I really don't want to go for the wholesome farm girl look.

So the decision that it had to go was almost made - it was just a matter of whether I chopped a inch off and obviated the problem for a few weeks or whether I shaved the lot off (literally) and started again - when I thought I would try a natural detangler in a last-ditch effort to keep the mane. The one I picked to try first was five drops of rosemary oil.

So last night I washed it and left it out to go to work. When I came home this morning I did tie it into a low ponytail because I couldn't stand it anymore. Then I slept on it for parts of today.

Now I have had my shower. Then, on towel dry hair I used eight drops because my hair is longer and guess what - it works! I don't remember the last time my hair *ever* brushed so well! And while the rosemary smell was initially a little strong, it has dissipated and it now smells better than the last conditioner I used.

Does anyone want to have a guess if I can use other flavors?

So while I still haven't moved to the other shampoo - I found another bottle - at least this part of the change to a chemical free environment is working really well :-)

Water for Food

Did you know it takes ... litres of water for ...

2000-5000 L for 1kg rice
1000 L for 1kg wheat
500 L for 1kg potatoes
24000 L for 1kg beef
2000-4000 L for 1 L milk
5000 L for 1 kg cheese
3000 L for 1 kg sugar
20 000 L for 1 kg coffee

in the amounts usually eaten in a meal:
100 L for 1 portion rice
150 L for enough bread for a sandwich
500 L for a 2-egg omelette
500 L for a mixed salad
1000 L for a glass of milk
1500 L for an ice cream
2000 L for a pork chop
3000 L for a hamburger
5000 L for a small steak
50 cups of water for 1 teaspoon of sugar
140 L or 1120 cups water for 1 cup of coffee
250 L for a glass of wine or pint of beer
2000 L for a glass of brandy
25 bathtubs for the 250g of cotton to make a t-shirt

Stats from Fred Pearce's Book "When the Rivers Run Dry", 2007, Random House. Mr Pearce also has other water related books published by CSIRO.

There will be a slight variation to these figures subject to specific growing circumstances but, at the very least, they are considered to be an accurate guesstimate to water usage. The CSIRO also produces a very similar set of figures for major crops.

Ten Cedar Trees

The town of Bellingen had it's Plant Sale today. What an amazing array of options before me but I resisted temptation and headed to where I needed to go.

First off I bought 10 Red Cedar trees (or alternate revegetation options). I have no land to grow trees so while I bought them, the tree seller was going to find a good home for them. He initially looked at me a bit oddly when I said I wanted to buy the trees but could he give them to someone else but after a moment or two there was the sage nod, the rub of the chin and "yes, I know of a few people who will be coming by later who would like them". And so it was done.

That makes me almost, almost, almost carbon neutral. And, if I do this every six months when the Plant Sale is on, I will be flowing in carbon credits (metaphorically of course). I am just wondering what tweak I can make now to go carbon neutral immediately but I think that is a bit of a stretch - I have the big problem of driving to work that I can't get around. Not to worry, every step counts :-)

I also bought a heaps of herbs and salad greens. I will post that photo tomorrow :-)

Hmmmm....

I have just got off the phone to Sunrice to ascertain what proportion of their rice is grown on the Ord. They inform me, quite happily, that all of their rice is sourced from the Murray-Darling system.

Ok, I declare I am picky about food miles, food and lots of other things but in this day and age of water management, not to mention the 10 year-ish drought we are coming out of, when the Murray-Darling irrigation system is so over-allocated, when Adelaide is screaming for water for human consumption, when wetlands are dying, WHY ARE WE GROWING RICE ON THIS RIVER????

Obviously I will never knowingly buy the product again - it is an absolute travesty of resource wastage! Okay MG, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in again, think 'calm blue ocean'...

This one phone call it has solved my rice 'problem' I will be buying Asian rice, where they have the water to grow the crop. I will advise of a specific brand when I have done some more research. That will certainly be more environmentally sensible than allowing this abomination to continue, with my consumer dollar, for one more minute.

Okay MG, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in again, think 'calm blue ocean'...

General Update

I have been eating big salads with a small piece of meat and a wedge of Turkish bread (from the freezer store supply) this week as my main meal. I haven't eaten much else although I did make Auntie Julie's zucchini slice for lunch yesterday. By eating fresh food it is not only healthier, but also easier to determine food miles :-)

Items that I have purchased this week that are outside my 100 miles:

• Funky lettuce - abut 4 big handfuls with more to buy today (I do have lettuce planted but it will need a few more weeks before I can start harvesting)
• Wonton wrappers (no local option)
  

Yes, there has only been two items - and I haven't actually used the wonton wrappers yet :-)

I got some great local vegetables too - tomatoes (vine ripened), cucumbers, zucchini - yummy! I also got some locally smoked ham, and local, organic and free-range eggs for the zucchini slice. Dorrigo feta was the crowning glory on my big salads (funky lettuce, tomato and cucumber).

Coffee - well it is still coming ...

So, now I get to the hard stuff.

• I don't have any more flour and haven't resolved my quandary about this one (the wheat is a bit outside the 100 miles but I haven't followed up the milling yet) so, as I don't need any flour for now, I am letting this one sit but I will have to resolve it sooner or later.
• I have almost finished my bottle of balsamic vinegar. Real balsamic vinegar comes from Modena, Italy and nothing else will do. Okay, I would only get a couple of bottles a year but... Is this a luxury good I could do without, or is it a kitchen essential? I am wavering (at this moment it is an essential) but the answer will determine whether I buy another bottle or not.
• I have almost finished my bottle of olive oil - Jingili from Western Australia - highly recommended. I don't appear to be able to find an alternative within 100 miles and as I regard this as an essential ingredient do I minimize the miles and get one from this side of the world, or do I go for a straight replacement (and if I do, does that make it a luxury item?)?

Add to all of this, the latest research indicates that just counting food miles might not be the best way to minimize the environmental impact of the food we eat. Some of these considerations I have already come across eg rice from the Murray-Darling, the Ord or overseas.

One example they gave, which got me thinking, was that if you live in London, it is more environmentally friendly to eat lamb from New Zealand than lamb local to London. This determination was reached when one considered all of the input required to the lamb from paddock to plate including fertilizers, water and the like. And even taking into account the shipping of the lamb from New Zealand, it still came out miles ahead - no pun intended.

As I live in a little food bowl here (with lots of water), and there is a good range of organic produce available, I am not going to factor in all of those other bits in the decision making process of what to buy. For a start I don't have the resources or the energy, and secondly I am sure that given the specific circumstances of the area, local will come out best. But in determining the purchase of things like lentils or chickpeas or whatever, some preliminary thought in the direction of the bigger picture would probably resolve a lot of my little issues.

No More Chemicals ... Sigh

I wandered into the personal products section of the supermarket, wasn't really looking for anything, just wandering. Then I came to the hair dyes.... sigh.

No I haven't colored my hair for a few months and it is about time but I have already made the decision I am going to reduce my chemical usage. And lets face it, these are *definitely* chemicals - the ammonia always gets to me.

So it is orange hair for a bit longer. Yes I will obviously looking for a natural option - henna is an easy start but do I want to be a henna-head when I am having issues about not being brown in the first place? No, well at least not yet.

My preliminary research indicates a couple of very natural options but you have to rinse the hair 15 times in the various teas at least once a week as an ongoing process. Now as green as I am going to be, I just can't see that happening.

So now I am just sitting ... and sighing ... oh the sacrifices I am making, price I am paying (imagine me saying this with the back of my hand to my forehead in a suitably melodramatic pose)!!!! :-)

No More Chemicals

I reduced my cleaning products last year to a bottle of bleach, bi-carb soda and vinegar and have been very happy with the results.

It has now occured to me that I still have other chemicals in the house - most obviously shampoo, conditioner, washing up liquid, deodorant and laundry powder - so I have decided that they too must go.

I am starting with the shampoo and conditioner (as soon as I use up what I already have - about two more days). I have done my research (long live Google) and have a few recipes to try. When I find one that I think is the best, I will certainly post it.

Deodorant is next on my list to research and replace - I think I have about a week's supply left.

I still have a few months laundry powder on hand and I have just opened my last bottle of washing-up liquid so I will get to them in due course.

No, this has nothing to do with food miles, this is just me trying to minimize the amount of chemicals I put on myself, and my immediate environment.

Carbon Footprints

As requested (okay it was a week ago but I got there eventually) :-)

I'm not sure this is the site that I originally calculated my carbon emissions but the 1Degree site is a good one (Australian, easy to use, fun) anyway.

Different calculators will come up with different answers because of their methods of calculation but that's okay (some, for example, include how much red meat you eat, or the size of your garden and the plants contained within), just use the figure as a guide so you know where you are up to and different ways to reduce your emissions.

Yes I hope to move to "negative" territory (or at least have my emissions offset) soon so I could have some spare credits :-)

Yah! I Am Not the Only One :-)

Yes I have found someone else who eats local - well took up the challenge for a month anyway. ABC reporter Kim Honan has even diaried her experience (long live the ABC) :-)

So what have I learned from this trail blazer - lots. Firstly I have been calculating on 100 km but I can actually look at 100 miles (160 km) so that gives me a couple of more options that I has sort of been considering - like a cheese factory 154 km from home that makes a regualr cheddar. Secondly she has mentioned a number of suppliers that I can follow up with including a chicken producer based near Stuart's Point and a Dorrigo yogurt. Thirdly, and most improtantly, this CAN be done. Yes it takes work but it is possible.

Other considerations raised by Kim are :

• The 90% rule. If I get it right 90% of the time is that okay? It would certainly be helpful for buying rice, bread and legumes. If I am going to do this "forever" as opposed for just a set-period challenge, it would probably be practical but how much of the integrity of the process if compromised....
• Many local producers use ingredients from outside the 100 mile zone due to unavailablity of the produce locally. And example was a honey flavored yogurt - the yogurt was all local but the honey wasn't. The way around this would be to apply the 90% rule but I am not totally sold on that yet.
• Yes you have to ask a million questions about whether ingredients are "really" local. It gets tiring and some people get an attitude. Many folks really don't have a clue, or care.

I do have an update on sourcing local produce but as I have a few more leads now, I will save that for another post....

Food Miles Update

First of all, this takes work - lots of work. And time, I think it will get easier as time goes on, but for now I must confess that sometimes I can't be bothered and just take the easy way out.

Fruit and Veg: I can pretty much buy it all locally and conforming to my 100 km from home policy. The big change is that I no longer go to the store to buy (say) potatoes, celery and carrots. I need to go and see what is available on the day and change my food plans accordingly. The organic food from the markets is a bit expensive but I will buy what I can afford and know I am supporting my local farmers and the planet. At this stage I am about 20% organic. I have also planted some lettuce, more herbs and an eggplant so I will be harvesting them in due course.

Eggs: No problem buying free range eggs locally - I have quite a few options.

Meat: One butcher sells beef from farms 10 km away so that gets the big tick. I haven't had confirmation on lamb, pork or chicken but the research is continuing. Haven't looked at sandwich meat because I don't usually eat a lot but I will need to do that at some point.

Flour: I have found a source of locally grown, organic wheatbut haven't had a chance to find somewhere to get it milled yet. I am sure the local health store will know but I just haven't got around to asking them. This also means that I haven't started making my own bread yet (although I did buy some locally made wood-fired sourdough - not that the flour would have been local) but that will come in due course. I will get a sourdough starter going at some point so I can eliminate the need for yeast. I am using up my existing flour supply to make pasta.

Cheese: I have found a local feta but am struggling to source a local cheddar (or other 'everyday' cheese). Haven't given up yet. Also contemplating the other delicious varieties I love so much as to whether they become (say) a once a year treat or whether they get the flick ....

Milk and Other Dairy: I would buy about 1 litre of milk a year so I might have to suck that one up. Butter, well it would be worth looking around to see if someone makes it locally but haven't got to it yet. Actually, thinking about milk, I will need to buy more when I start making my own yogurt so I will need to follow that up.

Bubbly water: Having a hard time not buying this - love it so much - but it is getting better. I always make sure I have plenty of ice on hand and I am keeping cold water in the fridge so that is helping the switch. (such a silly thing to get stuck on).

Herbs and Spices: There is one local source for pepper but otherwise I will have to just live this one. Okay I can buy some Bush foods but most of the spices come from overseas and I can't think of a way around that.

Coffee: I have found a local-ish coffee producer but I notice that while their beans are all Australian, they aren't single source. Last night I lashed out and had three cups of coffee - that would be my normal weekly consumption so, again, I might just have to make do here.

Other items: Rice is not grown locally but, from memory, it is grown in the Ord River region. I have decided to buy that (once I find it) simply because there is an ocean of available water there so it is not placing stress on the environment as it would if I bought it from land irrigated by the Murray River system.

Wonton wrappers, spring roll wrappers and noodles - no idea yet. Yes I could make my own wrappers easy enough although I am trying to work out whether I could really be bothered. I haven't found any noodle source and that isn't something that is as easily home-made. Will I need to consider this as an exception and significantly reduce my consumption?

My other consideration is storage space. For example I can source some great corn at the moment - and I do love my corn - but I only have a very small freezer. So do I buy a new freezer to store the corn (considering the footprint that that will have) or do I just eat corn seasonally? I can't do without tomatoes but I can bottle them when the season rocks around. But I don't really want to bottle corn and pickled cauliflower doesn't have the same versatility as regular cauliflower. Hmmm, more thought needed here.

As I look through here, I realize that a lot of my "little exceptions" actually make up a really long list. Will have to put some serious thought into that too.

Food For Thought

I did a bit of a grocery shop this morning - been a while since I did one this big and I paid extra attention to my food miles.

My latest considerations : I could only buy one brand of canned tomatoes that came from Australia - and that had a 50% price premium over the Italian brands - and it wasn't from my state let alone my neighborhood. I use a lot of canned tomatoes so now I have a choice of not using them, or reducing their use considerably, or concede that my food miles will be higher for doing so. And then I started to think about how far the can had traveled!

I realized that while I intended to drop my food miles to almost nil, practically that is almost impossible - at this stage anyway.

I was actually buying the tomatoes for a black eyed bean soup, and to restock the pantry. I then realized that I don't know of anywhere in Australia where they grow black eyed beans, and they weren't in the supermarket so that put paid to that option.

I got some red wine vinegar - a choice of three brands, all from Italy. Sigh, I gave into that one.

I went to buy some general (non-olive oil). I usually avoid canola oil simply because of the GM debate so I looked at everything else. None of the options available (yes I was in a major supermarket) had a pure Australia oil - all were made from 'Australian and imported' product. I even reverted to looking at the canola items but that was no different. Well I would only use a couple of litres a year so I will stick with my Australian olive oil instead.

The last decision I made, of any importance, was to not buy my Paul Newman's Ranch Dressing. I love the stuff but the ingredient list is way too long (and with way too many non-natural products) so I got some buttermilk instead and will make my own tomorrow. Now this is nothing against Paul Newman - all dressings are in the same boat - including the vinaigrette styles (which again I will now be making instead of buying) and in cutting out the 'numbers' this was an easy choice.

I went to buy packaged pasta but I then considered I really only use packaged product for fuel food, and not for actually savoring, or 'real' food. I left the pasta behind and shall make an effort to continue to make my own pasta - and avoid eating anything just for 'fuel'. To be honest I am not sure how sustainable that will be in the long run but I will make a strong effort.

I discussed this with Brother G and, at his suggestion, I think I have decided to keep a look out for a little mill so I can make my own flour. This will provide me with additional nutrition but I will also know exactly where my flour comes from - when buying a bag of grain you can invariably trace it to a specific farm - I just don't know where the supermarket product comes from so I can't even guess at the miles involved - lets face it 'Product of Australia' doesn't really help me narrow much down :-)

I have also decided to bottle my own tomatoes so will continue to purchase the Australian canned product until the local season kicks in later in the year at which time I can make a year's supply.

I am also going to make a supreme effort to get all of my fruit and vege at the local growers market. That is going to necessitate a complete overhaul of how I eat - probably making more vege-style soups with product that doesn't last the distance between markets but I can live with that - imagine real soup made with real sour dough (using my own starter and my own flour)....

When I decided to be more aware of my food miles, are reduce them where possible, I didn't actually realize what a big and complex job it actually would be. But I have made a start and shall continue to do what I can where I can. Shall continue to update as I can :-)

In the meantime I have a lot of research to do :-)

Food Miles Confession

I got some of my favorite gnocchi earlier this week and cooked it up yesterday. After I finished eating it I thought to check where it was made. Yes my favorite gnocchi is from Italy.

I just cannot justify the food miles in getting such a very basic product to my table so I commit here and now to make my own unless I find a product with *very* minimal food miles that is made in New South Wales from NSW potatoes. Yes I have considered the loophole that the potential company might source their potatoes from (say) Western Australia.

Okay it is only a small sacrifice but I am getting serious about my food miles. I can't make an informed choice all of the time but I certainly will when I can :-)