LOCAL food has a strong future asserted Christine Hope, Longtown shopkeeper and rural enterprise champion, in her talk The Future for Local Food? at Ledbury Food Group on September 15.

But how do we ensure that everyone understands what threatens our rural economy and how important our farms, orchards and local companies are? Christine's way is to hold a "transition dinner". Inviting a mix of guests, farmers, consumers and friends, they wined and dined on delicious local fare, and directed the conversation positively towards the issues they felt needed airing. But this wasn't just a talking shop. At the end of the evening, everyone was invited to make a pledge to do something that would have a positive effect – however small – on the future of local food.

Invited to make a similar pledge, the audience thought hard about what they could do to spread the word, or encourage others to shop locally, or support local producers. One brave member decided she would hold our own transition dinner.

As an example of getting the best of local food, Russ Carrington told how the Pasture Fed Livestock Association were encouraging a more sustainable way to rear animals with a total "grass fed" approach, avoiding feeding with costly grain. They also championed greater traceability of meat from farm to butcher.

Find out more about Ledbury Food Group at www.ledburyfoodgroup.org.