Comfortable Compromises (Ethical Eating part Deux)

Life is full of compromises, not least when you have several conflicting desires in one specific area. I did manage to find a way of eating ethically that, while not perfect (because really, perfect is unattainable and would be dull if it were), suits me and my household well for the present.

First of all, I turned to the internet and that one modern joy that this Luddite truly appreciates - internet shopping, and found me an organic delivery company for the weekly shop. I found another company that deals with organic meat, game and rare breeds. And I found a company that sells organic grains, pulses and other dry goods and staples in some kind of bulk. Those companies are :-

Abel & Cole - weekly vegetable box and grocery delivery company

Blackface Meat Company - seasonal, organic meat, rare breeds and game

Goodness Direct - dry goods, cereals, pulses and other grocery supplies

I've had good service from all three during the past two years, but Abel & Cole do stand out as a firm that goes above and beyond the call of duty to keep their customers happy. Also, their ethics are second to none. All their vegetables are UK sourced (and that, dear readers, is my compromise on the 'Local' front) and any fruit that comes into the country - citrus, pineapples, coconuts - are shipped in, not airfreighted. Their bread and other baked goods are outsourced to local small artisan bakeries and baked to order, and they have an arrangement with a local zoo to pass on any fruit and veg past their best, so waste is at a minimum.

Now, I'm nowhere near well organised enough to get all my groceries this way, but I've managed to reach a happy medium. Almost 100% of the meat, milk, eggs and butter that comes into this house is organic - the rest is free range. I would say that 85% of all fruit and vegetables is also organic, a lot is fairtrade. Most dry goods coming in, and about half the tinned or bottled goods are organic also. Coffee and most chocolate is Fairtrade - sadly not all the tea is, because I just get through so much of it.

One thing that is undeniable - this way of eating costs more. In some parts of Europe where quality is more valuable than quantity, they do spend a lot more on food than is the UK national average, and I spend a comparable amount. I'm lucky that I can do it, and I'm well aware that a lot of people just can't. And if I can't do it this way at any point in the future, then I'll have to sit down again, and make another list of compromises. One thing won't change, though - I'm 100% committed to Humane Farming, so the only meat, eggs, butter and milk here will be Free Range as an absolute minimum. All other things are negotiable.

xxx