Our Environmental Policy
Suppliers & Growers
We liaise with all our suppliers and growers to make sure they produce the food using as little energy as possible.
We will continue to operate our no GMO policy until such time it is proved to be safe for both consumers and the environment.
We encourage all our growers to cut down on the use of pesticides and herbicides, using the minimum possible for producing the desired crop quality.
We actively encourage our buyers to purchase from the most local viable source (subject to quality standards and price restrictions).
In the Warehouse
All our refrigeration equipment has been converted to use modern, energy-efficient CFC-free units. Insulated doors and temperature conservation curtains have been fitted to all coldstore entrances.
All staff have been instructed to help save energy by:
Turning off all appliances when not in use, particularly heaters, lights, computers cooking equipment etc.
Keeping coldstore doors closed except when goods are being moved in and out of the coldstore.
Keeping office doors closed in cold weather to cut down on energy used for heating.
Recycling
Direct re-use of packaging is actively encouraged and we send as much produce as possible out in its original packaging.
Order-pickers are trained to pack boxes and bags efficiently in order to keep packaging material use to a minimum.
We use recyclable, or recycled packaging wherever practical.
Food Wastage
Through efficient cold storage, good stock rotation practices and sensible, efficient buying and ordering we aim to keep produce wastage to an absolute minimum. Our wastage is monitored closely and staff trained in best practices with regard to minimising produce wastage.
We also undertake to supply the customer in the units they specify, again minimising waste at end user level.
Delivery & Vehicles
Our vehicles are regularly serviced and maintained in order to keep fuel consumption to a minimum.
When upgrading vehicles, fuel consumption and emission figures are taken into consideration when choosing which vehicle to buy. This applies to our commercial fleet and any company cars purchased.
Our delivery runs are continually re-organised to try to provide the most efficient routes.
To save fuel and time our drivers collect goods from our local suppliers on their way back to the Country Fare depot.
All deliveries are carried out early in the day in order to avoid congestion, thereby reducing fuel consumption and pollution of urban areas.
All vehicles are fitted with CFC-free thermostatically-controlled chiller units and full body insulation to reduce energy loss.
All drivers are instructed to turn off their refrigeration units when the vehicle is empty or carrying goods which do not require refrigeration.
Reducing Food Miles
Country Fare purchases directly from growers so that produce is picked, packed and despatched directly to our depot thereby bypassing the market and thus saving food miles.
Where possible our own vehicles are used to collect produce from local growers. This means that our vehicles do not return to the depot empty but are loaded with produce which once again reduces unnecessary food miles.
Our monthly Newsletter and telesales team actively discourage our customers (chefs and unit managers) from ordering non season goods from the other side of the world, and to choose more seasonal products which to not rely on energy-inefficient air freight to get them to Britain.
By ordering seasonally , caterers can make a huge difference to the amount of energy consumed, and pollution generated by moving food unnecessarily around the planet.
