Veg News
In Grocery:
Despite volatile price movements globally, our direct-buy method of trading continues to offer value for money. This approach also remains popular with suppliers and growers. Some of the 50p (nitrate pumped) veg offers around other shops look like less of a good buy for their relatively poor nutrient content....
In Fruit & Veg;
We are at a peak time of year for UK production, and this is reflected in the origins shown on our labels. We're also now using our new Veg Map (above the fruit and veg stands) to show more clearly what’s arriving from where. Please ask if grower origin is not clear.
UK leeks and sweetcorn begin this week from Strawberry Fields, Lincs. The squash range is now swelling to several types, green “Buttercup” ones are often the sweetest. Discovery apples are soon to be joined by maincrop varieties and pears. Haygrove strawberries and other berries continue, using polytunnel covers to minimise rain damage.
Crops from abroad are now restricted to tropical fruits, avocados, sweet potatoes, the remaining peaches, figs, melons, oranges, some peppers and aubergines.
Last Modified - 28th August 2008
Organic Growers Wanted
With customer support through loanstock we have raised enough funds to buy 20 acres of fertile land to the west of Manchester.
We are interested in submissions from any growers or would-be growers for long-term organic production on the above land. We are particularly interested in season extension techniques and higher value cropping.
We would want to offer longer-term security and support, particularly while market conditions remain challenging. We anticipate a better overall market in the short to medium-term as oil and nitrate prices rise and a weaker £ favours UK production.
Unicorn has immediate and continuing demand from our established local customers for NW organic produce. We have 2 organic veg wholesalers in the city and one established market garden project we are connected to.
Glebelands Market Garden
We are also interested in submissions from any growers who would be interested in taking on an established market garden. Glebelands is situated next to the River Mersey in Sale near Manchester. Set up in 2001 Glebelands supply truly local and organic fruit and vegetables to the people of south Manchester, mostly via Unicorn who are their primary customer.
For informal discussion contact Stuart Jones 0161 8610010 or 07738 427944 alternatively e-mail stuart@unicorn-grocery.co.uk
Last Modified - 24th August 2008
Soil Association Organic Apprenticeship Scheme
The Soil Assocation, champions of organic agriculture in the UK, are rolling out a programme of 2 year apprenticeships based in locations all over the UK, including Manchester.
They say:
"The twin threats of climate change and unpredictable energy supplies mean that farming systems are shifting to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in a significant move towards higher levels of sustainability and increased responsibility for our actions. During this process, considerable demand will be created for highly skilled and talented individuals as full time and part time farmers, land workers and entrepreneurs.
So the Soil Association has set up its Organic Apprenticeship scheme which is being run in partnership with the Organic Growers Alliance and the Organic Advisory Service, with the support of Garden Organic and Duchy College
Organic apprenticeships with farm and food businesses will provide individuals with practical training and direct experience of working as part of a team, combined with structured off-site group tutorial sessions or “masterclasses” which provide the theory behind the practice.
The apprenticeship scheme is a two-year programme which will enable apprentices to focus on mixed or single enterprises, as well as the option to study other farm types and enterprises.
The ultimate aim of the Organic Apprenticeship Scheme is to achieve well-rounded and experienced individuals with specialist skills, if so desired, but primarily with a broad knowledge of organic agriculture and food businesses."
Details here Last Modified - 7th August 2008 Terence Blacker: Reasons to be cheerful about the credit crunch
For us at least - perhaps not so cheering for the majority (developing) world. But an interesting article nonetheless.
Read article here Last Modified - 7th August 2008 Tales from the Riverbank – August 2008
Glebelands Market Garden, Sale
The Summer's ok, this one at least. Despite several days of serious heat recently, rainfall has been generally appropriate, temperatures steady and no mad winds. Those unfamiliar with fieldwork will underestimate how severe sunshine can be and the challenge of doing physical work in humid conditions. We don hats, sunscreen and variable clothing layers but the UK is an amazingly changeable climate dominated by mild "fronts" blowing up from the SW and the oceans. Planning for each one dominates our working lives and we are never far from the BBC radar pictures for looking at the next 24-48 hours. The UK is however a relatively benign, temperate climate, much of the rest of the world less so. Turn off this "Gulf Stream" and the UK will be a chilly unproductive place.
To this end, building Kingsnorth/Nuclear/Shopping Centres would be suicidal acts Neo-Labour would still dearly love to commit. Fortunately western capitalism has got a permanent puncture and building anything in the UK/US is pretty much over. No more Trafford Centre, Chill Factor indoor ski nightmare, motorways or spending lots of cash on trash, period.
Interestingly, so far behavior in the UK has been encouraging, with make and mend, resourcefulness, car booting, and growing fruit+veg all prevalent themes. Rises in housebreaking, debt collecting, redundancy and privatisation are warning shots but overall the population appears more resilient than might have been expected. Admirable campaigning such as The Climate Camp continues but the driver for the rapid changes taking place is the price of energy and materials.
On the land we have produced record amounts of our crops, even achieving a surplus of Courgettes. Comic for many, but novel for us. Unicorn, our dominant outlet, has continued to shift substantial amounts in the face of fierce supermarket competition and it is heartening to see the model holding up in such extreme conditions. Maintaining any profit margin while competitors "burn" lots of cash reserves is not an easy task.
Laissez-faire government at this point can be seen to be particularly stupid as suppliers/growers have been the main victims so far. Having already handed over planning permission for most useful UK retail sites to supermarkets over the last 15 years Hazel Blears recently announced action to protect independent shops! Reality and Neo-Labour announcements remain estranged.
We have continued our quest for coastal relocation, and search for inheritors of the Glebelands business in Sale, with a low response so far. Do email us if you are interested. We are interested in showing what can be done on very mild costal strip areas for winter import substitution. Suitable sites are not easy to obtain but the idea remains very important.
Adam York & Lesley Bryson
www.glebelandsmarketgarden.co.uk
Last Modified - 5th August 2008
Living Roof events
Following a great open event in June, we'll be opening up our fab 'Living Roof' to customers on two more occasions over the summer.
On Sunday 27th July and Wednesday 27th August, come along to the shop between 11am and 3pm. On each hour and half hour, we'll be taking groups up to the roof to see how it's added to local biodiversity and warmed us up!
See more about the roof here Last Modified - 10th July 2008 Best Local Independent Shop!
We have been awarded the Obsever Food Monthly's 'Best Local Independent Shop' 2008! From the whole of the UK. This is a reader-voted award, which means a lot, we're extremely proud and we really appreciate your voting for us. Their first worker-co-op winners? Probably, but surely not the last. We feel loved! Thank you. Last Modified - 22nd May 2008
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