When you are buying food at the shop or in a restaurant, look for the following characteristics:

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  In season – food grown out of season is likely to have either been transported a long way, or grown in artificially hot conditions which takes more energy

  
  


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  Locally grown – consumes less food miles during production, and supports your local community

  
  


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  Fair Trade – if the food can’t be obtained locally, then choose an import that gives the most back to the community it is grown in

  
  


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  Pesticide free – pesticides can build up in the body causing health problems, especially in the young

  
  


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  Provides a reasonable income to the grower – which in general means avoid supermarkets

  
  


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  GM free – not genetically modified, the dangers of which are little understood

  
  


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  Un-processed – in its natural state, not chemically or mechanically turned into something it is not

  
  


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  Free Range – avoid factory farmed animal products