| Author |
Message |
Jbird
Joined 13-02-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 14 February, 2006 - 05:16 pm: | |
Hello - first time posting on here but I've been a resident in Honor Oak for about 6 months, and am loving it!
I wondered whether (after reading various posts about grocers and organic veg shops) whether the allotment tenants in HOP would consider selling their produce to local people. Could be a brilliant little business. Are there any representatives on this board? |
Bt
Joined 27-07-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 February, 2006 - 08:04 am: | |
I'm not totally sure but I think that the selling of produce from allotments is not permitted. |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 February, 2006 - 12:21 pm: | |
Food Safety Act puts the onus on the retailer to ensure that food is safe and wholesome, without being over-prescriptive. It is doubtful that allotment owners have a high level of quality assurance but what more do they need than bought the seeds here, and the fertiliser there. But most food poisoning is through poultry, seafood or spices, not veg. Caterers have to show that they meet hygiene standards but doubt whether same is applicable to green grocers. I'll consult with my mate who is active in HOP allotments, but can't see why one coudn't sell prodcuce. |
Jbird
Joined 13-02-2006
| | Posted on Friday, 17 February, 2006 - 09:49 am: | |
Thanks Baggydave - it'll be interesting to hear what they say. |
Cllrdavidwhiting
Joined 07-12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, 17 February, 2006 - 12:44 pm: | |
I think the restrictions, if there are any, may be more to do with Allotment Society rules, restrictive covenants etc than with food regs. |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 01:03 pm: | |
Matie who has an allotment tells me they aren't supposed to, under a clause to stop allotments
being turned into commerial ventures. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 01:05 pm: | |
What is wrong with enterprising people selling local produce at a Farmers Market outside the Hob. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 01:32 pm: | |
Lack of space on the pavement? |
Loneranger
Joined 29-10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 01:36 pm: | |
The Moor Park Tavern has a thriving passing trade. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 02:26 pm: | |
You need a street trading licence to trade on the pavement! |
Jbird
Joined 13-02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 04:23 pm: | |
I've just emailed the One Tree Hill Allotments Society web site to ask for an opinion. Hopefully hear a little more from them soon. |
Jbird
Joined 13-02-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 08:29 am: | |
Here's the response from the vice chair at the Allotment Society. Many thanks to him for his time. It's a shame, but there we go.
Hi,
I don't have a log on, so I am responding this method,
I am informed that allotment law does not forbid selling of produce, but It depends on the landowner, some sites in the UK you can sell, while some sites are barred from selling on the site itself, but can be done off site, say at a farmers market. You can sell with out any environmental health regulation as long as it is raw veg and not prepared e.g. chutney that requires a number of regulations.
I have looked at our lease and as far as I can see on One Tree Hill site we could sell, although if we ever did we would check with our landowner in this case Southwark council. Although I am sorry to say to your forum member we do not have any ambitions to do so at this moment/year.
I hope this helps |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 12:00 pm: | |
Jbird - the advice I got was (informal) from One Tree Hill
some informal advice from someone working in food safety:
Selling might contravene the rental agreement with the landlord e.g. Parish Council or whoever. If selling is not disallowed the allotment keeper then becomes a food business operator and the full panoply of food law becomes applicable. Even if products are not sold but are given away the requirements of Food Safety Act (food must be safe and not injurious etc.) applies. Better just to eat it yourself to supplement your meagre wages and get some exercise which is what the allotment scheme was set up for. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 01:03 pm: | |
Better to ignore the petty bureaucracy if possible, surely? What "safety" implications can there be from a carrot? I think many others would appreciate the opportunity to buy such local produce. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 01:34 pm: | |
What a fuss.
Just sell the stuff.
Try Provender as client |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 01:59 pm: | |
Unfortunately, there is always someone who will complain about something.
A farmer used to come to Catford and sell boxes of English apples very cheaply. They actually tasted nice too. Someone complained about him and he had to stop. |
Captainconnolly
Joined 03-03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, 03 March, 2006 - 10:59 am: | |
I'm afraid it has closed permanently and all the equipment has been sold. Rumour is that the existing traditional shops and cafes have been complaining to the landlord about the 'new' restaurants, bars etc as it is putting them out of business so he has been putting their rents up. This is a real shame, it was a great local place. |
Captainconnolly
Joined 03-03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, 03 March, 2006 - 11:01 am: | |
oops sorry, wrong topic! |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 15 March, 2006 - 11:08 am: | |
Hilltop - carrots can be very dangerous:
With regards to carrots, yes you can eat so many of them that your skin will turn yellow. One carrot (7 1/2" long) has 2025 RE of vitamin A, which is 203% of your Daily Value. One pound of carrots has 1276% of your RDA for vitamin A. So since you have eaten more than 3 carrots in a day (> 34,000 IU), you have probably saturated your body's ability to store vitamin A over a short time and so it is showing up as an orange tint on your skin.
So now you know. Not only can you see in the dark, you glow in the dark as well!
As regards to local produce, if there was a market for it then it would be sold (Forest Hill Farmers Market RIP). Although I think we all buy into the convenience of the 'big shop' and probably don't put a lot of pressure on Sainsburys to buy Kent apples, and pretend out of season strawberries are nice.
Where I grew up we used to gorge strawberries at PYO farms. Should imagine most of those outlets have gone now. But good to see allotment is going strong and there is a waiting list to join. Some of the allotments (and prefabs) seem to have made way for new housing down East Dulwich way.
Hope some of the readers saw Jim Dowd in the supermarket vs small shop debate on BBC a couple of weeks ago. |
Catherine
Joined 06-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 01:33 pm: | |
Baggydave, I knew someone once who actually did turn orange because she ate so many carrots. Well more yellow actually, like jaundice. She was told to stop eating carrots by her doctor, as too much Vitamin A is not very good for you. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 16 March, 2006 - 01:40 pm: | |
You have only got to look at Dutch footy fans to proove you right |
