Milk which has been entirely produced on environmentally-friendly Scottish farms has gone on sale at 32 Asda supermarkets across the country.
The White & Wild brand costs consumers around 6p a litre more than conventional supplies. Three pence of this goes back to the dairy farmers, with a proviso that they plough back profits into biodiversity plans which benefit endangered flora and fauna. In addition, the Scottish Wildlife Trust receives a donation for every bottle sold.
Asda joins Sainsbury's, the Co-operative Group and BP Connect in stocking the milk.
The market for Fairtrade mangoes in the UK has expanded rapidly this week with the announcement that the country's two largest supermarket groups, Tesco and Sainsbury's, are to add the fruit to their produce portfolio. The two companies join fellow UK retailers Co-op and Waitrose in stocking Fairtrade mangoes in stores across the country.
The fruit, which is supplied by Fairtrade company AgroFair, is branded Oké and carries the Fairtrade Mark awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation and which guarantees a better deal for marginalised producers in developing countries.
Duncan White, director of AgroFair UK, said: "AgroFair UK is leading the way in beginning a transformation of the fresh fruit sections of our supermarkets. We want to see the Fairtrade Mark on even more shelves across the country."
Sustainable food promotes a responsible use of resources, a recognition of possible health effects, reduces negative environmental impacts and provides a basis for long term, sustained, production.
Sustainable Food:
enhances the environment
ensures adequate profit
encourages social involvement
evolves to remain vital forever
While sustainable food includes organic food, it also looks at the social aspects of food production, where many people in the food chain can not afford the food they produce.
The site is currently free of charge, and the developers are seeking feedback from interested parties.
All strawberries at this year's Wimbledon Tennis Championships will be produced to LEAF Marque standards, showing they have been grown with care for the environment.
Speaking at LEAF's press launch, Chief Executive Caroline Drummond, said: "Today signals an important landmark in LEAFs history. Although for some time, our farmers have been producing food to LEAF standards, now, through the LEAF Marque, consumers can consciously choose to buy this quality food, giving our farmers the support and recognition they deserve."
Waitrose, Safeway and Marks and Spencer are among those retailers supporting the LEAF project. The LEAF marque label is currently available on fruit, vegetables and salads. Beef, lamb, pork, chicken, dairy and cereal products are soon to follow.
