Support your local farmers in Wirral call

Oct 29 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

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EATING fresh, local food can reduce your carbon footprint, save you money and make you healthier, according to three Wirral farmers.

Even though our peninsula is brimming with fresh, home grown food, many people, through convenience, indifference or ignorance still shop in supermarkets.

Hundreds of vegetable shops, butchers and farms sell food that have not made the round the world journey that some superstore meat and vegetables have made.

Geb White, of White’s Farm, Thurstaston, sells home-reared Aberdeen Angus beef. He has 130 cattle which roam his land all year round.

When it is time to slaughter them, he follows tradition by hanging them for 28 days to allow the enzymes to break down properly.

He said: “Our meat is as fresh as you can get it. You really don’t know where your meat is coming from in supermarkets; it could have travelled to Wirral from as far away as Brazil or Africa.

“If you buy meat from our shop, we can actually take you over to see the cattle if you want.”

John Appleby, of Greenhouse Farm, Greasby, owns 3000 hens and sells Appleby’s free range eggs through various Wirral outlets, including butchers in Greasby, West Kirby and Oxton.

He said: “These eggs are always fresh - supermarket eggs could be two or three weeks old by the time you buy them.”

And Steve Ledsham, of Church Farm, Thurstaston, who sells organic and local vegetables grown within a 25-mile radius, added: “I have 20 acres of land used to grow 17 different types of vegetable.

“They are fresh out the ground when they go on sale, which is the next best thing to growing your own.

“But unless the public support local farmers, then soon this option won’t be available.”

For information on where to buy local produce, call 288 7649.