Food provenance: why it matters

At Somer Valley Farms, food provenance is at the heart of what we do. But what does this mean, and why does it matter? Read on to find out!

What is food provenance?

Food provenance means knowing where your food comes from, how it was produced and how it was transported. This could mean an awareness of the processes used to grow crops - such as if chemicals such as pesticides were used - the methods used to catch food such as fish or knowledge of the conditions in which animals are reared.

Especially for cheap, processed foods you may find in the supermarket, provenance can be difficult to obtain; they often have incredibly complex channels which can even travel through multiple countries. If you cast your mind back to 2013, you will remember when the media erupted with headlines of the discovery of horse meat in processed goods advertised as beef, sold by major supermarkets. As it was so difficult to trace where the meat had come from, even the supermarkets were unaware as to what was in the products. This opened the eyes of Europe to issues of food provenance, the importance of traceability of supply chains and led to an enormous lack of consumer trust. This lack of trust has since led to the demand for transparency as to where food comes from, and the resulting growth in knowing the provenance of food as an industry trend.

Why it matters

Provenance doesn’t just matter so you can prevent being a victim in a scandal such as the horse meat one discussed above - there are many more reasons why it is important. Here are some of them!

Assurance of ethical sources and practices

Being assured that your food is ethically sourced allows you to make informed decisions as to what ends up on your fork. If your food is from elsewhere in the world, it is important to consider that not all countries have the same standards in terms of animal welfare. Even if your food is British, unethical practices such as animals being kept in close confinement still are carried out today. Transparency as to where your food comes from means you can be sure this is not the case.

Of course, ethics are not just limited to animal welfare; the use of fungicides and pesticides on crops can have a detrimental impact on the environment. Although in Europe, the European Union are increasingly tightening restrictions on the use of such chemicals, it still may be important to you to know the conditions under which your food was grown. Elsewhere in the world, some chemicals banned by the EU may still be in use, leading to food safety concern.

Better taste

Knowing the provenance of your food could make all the difference to how it tastes! When food travels, the intensity of flavour and proportion of quality nutrients decrease. Therefore, the less distance it has to travel, the better it tastes and healthier it is. In addition, factors such as soil quality and how food is grown makes an enormous difference to flavour.

Sustainability

An awareness of your food provenance means that the decisions you make are likely to be more sustainable. We have already mentioned the use of environmentally damaging, unsustainable pesticides and fungicides on crops. Awareness of the use of this means you can choose organic produce, which is more sustainable. Let’s also not forget unsustainable transport of goods. Shopping local can make a huge difference to your contribution of greenhouse gases where there are fewer food miles, making it a much more sustainable option.

Support local businesses

You can learn more about this in our blog, 5 reasons why you should shop locally, but if you know your food is locally sourced, you are supporting people in your community, boosting your local economy as well as helping to create local jobs. Additionally, if you shop local you can meet the people who produce your food and ask questions about farming methods used.