FOOD MILES FARCE; Supermarkets

Byline: Nick Dorman

SUPERMARKETS are importing fruit and veg from thousands of miles away even though it's now in season here.

We found all four major chains were failing on their promise to buy British.

And campaigners say the food miles farce is damaging the environment - and threatening the livelihoods of UK growers.

Our probe found the worst offender is Tesco - already under fire for shipping asparagus 6,000 miles from Peru even though the delicacy is at its peak here this month.

Based on our typical basket of fruit and veg, Tesco's imports totalled 14,000 miles.

They include onions from Chile, new potatoes from Egypt and cherries from the US - all widely available in the UK now. Labels showing where the items are from contrast with the chain's latest ad, which has Doc Martin star Martin Clunes singing Tesco's praises for stocking local milk.

The ad ties in with the slogan: "Great food, locally sourced."

A similar sample at Morrisons had come 13,200 miles, Sainsbury's racked up 10,400 miles and Asda had covered about 8,700.

Yet Morrisons' website says: "We work with the British farming industry to source as much produce as possible from UK."

Truck

Sainbury's - promoted by celeb chef Jamie Oliver - runs a Great British Food campaign.

And Asda's website boasts: "We're proud of the fact the vast majority of products we sell that can be sourced in the UK are sourced in the UK."

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But expert Tim Lang, of London's City University, said: "Why ship, fly or truck simple foods mega distances if we can perfectly well grow them here? The new government has a wonderful chance to grow more while importing less, cutting food miles and rebuilding horticultural jobs." Lee Woodyer, of the National Farmers Union, said: "It doesn't make much sense to be flying stuff from around the world when it can be bought from UK suppliers."

And Tom Macmillan, of the Food Ethics Council, said: "Supermarkets need to radically rethink their relationships with farmers and local communities."

But Sainsbury's said: "The British season for some fresh produce is late due to the coldest spring in 15 years, so every UK retailer is currently importing."

Tesco insisted it stocks local food "whenever possible".

Morrisons said: "If the quality, quantity and value are there we will always source British first."

And Asda said: "Where possible our fresh produce is sourced from Britain - but to maintain 100 per cent availability we do top up some lines with imports."

DISTANCE that a basket of produce travels to each supermarket, even though it is now in season in the UK.

Baby new potatoes from Egypt (2,000 miles), cherries from USA (4,500 miles to Utah), onions from Chile (5,000 miles),lettuce from Spain (800 miles), watercress from Spain (800 miles), cauliflower from France (100 plus miles), broccoli from Spain (800 miles) TOTAL 14,000

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Baby new potatoes from Israel (2,200 miles), cherries from USA (4,500 miles), onions from Holland (200 miles), lettuce from Spain (800 miles), broccoli from Spain (800 miles), cucumber from Holland (200 miles) TOTAL 8,700

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