Know your food
What is food provenance? Five questions to ask
Food provenance describes where food comes from and how it reached you. These five questions help you understand the people, places and ingredients behind a product.
1. Who grew or made it?
Check the producer name on the label or listing. At a shop or market stall, ask which grower or maker supplied it. The person selling the product can often tell you how to contact the producer.
2. Where did the main ingredients come from?
Ask about the ingredients that matter to you. Jam made in a local kitchen might use fruit from a nearby farm or a mix of sources. Ask where the fruit came from if you want to know how much of the product was grown locally.
3. How was it grown or made?
Ask a specific question you care about, such as which apple varieties went into a juice or whether the producer makes a cheese in small batches. If you need allergen information, check the label or ask the producer directly.
4. When was it picked or made?
For foods you plan to eat fresh, ask when the produce was harvested or when the bread was baked. Use any stated storage and use-by instructions to decide whether it fits your plans.
5. How does it get to you?
Check whether you collect from the producer, a market or a shared collection point. For delivery, ask what days they cover your area and how to store the food when it arrives.