READING TEXT
Food miles: Is buying local food always better?
Read first, then answer the questions. Select an underlined word to see its meaning and save it below.
Original fictional learning scenario. People, dialogue and personal experiences are created for language practice.
A school café wanted to reduce the impact of its menu. The committee first proposed buying everything from the nearest producer. Then a supplier asked what they meant by impact. Distance was easy to understand, but it did not describe every stage between growing food and serving it.
The committee needed to consider production, storage, transport methods and waste as well. Rather than announce a perfect menu, it began collecting information about a few frequently purchased items. One useful change was simply ordering quantities the kitchen could use, so less food was thrown away. Local suppliers still offered advantages, including easier conversations about how food was produced. The project became more demanding when the simple slogan disappeared, but it also became more honest about what the committee knew and what remained to be measured.
