Green campaign group Transition Keighley plans local produce shop (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Green campaign group Transition Keighley plans local produce shop

1:00pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

Fresh fruit and veg lovingly grown by Keighley gardeners will soon be on sale at a local produce shop behind the town’s library.

Pies, bread soups and stews will also be on offer at the Local Produce Shop, which will nestle beside the Keighley Healthy Living centre on Scott Street.

The shop will be run by volunteers able to offer advice on growing and preparing the very best of food, said Marion Pencavel, of green campaign group Transition Keighley which is backing the scheme.

“It will be a shop where people can come in and buy a handful of whatever they want, which will help cut down on food wastage and also promote good eating habits,” said Marion.

“Some of the prices may be higher than a supermarket, but others will be cheaper and the point is it will keep money in the Keighley economy. It’s a very exciting idea and everyone is very keen.”

Transition Keighley is currently asking local people to take part in an online survey either as possible suppliers of food or as future shoppers.

“We are keen to make contact with producers of all sizes from large farms to allotment-holders, or someone with a big apple tree in their garden – anyone with a surplus,” Marion said.

“And we also want to hear from home bakers and preserves or entrepreneurs making ready meals from local ingredients.”

“The shop will be in a great position because it’s near to Keighley Healthy Living and there’s is obviously a tie-in with promoting good eating habits. We’ll hopefully even get some herbs from their garden,” said Marion.

Transition Keighley aims to help the project develop during the winter and the shop will open to coincide with the first spring crops next year.

“Our role is to make ideas happen and then be ‘hands-off’ when it comes to running them,” Marion said.