Local food scheme expands

OXFORD, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op&#039s local food scheme, Local Harvest, has been relaunched due to the involvement of additional suppliers.
Local Harvest ensures that 20 Co-op stores within OSG&#039s trading area will always stock a range of locally sourced goods.
The scheme was introduced last year with just over 100 products from 11 local suppliers. But the project has expanded and now offers around 200 products from 15 suppliers.
In the last year, consumer interest in the scheme has grown steadily and sales figures show that overall turnover has grown by 35 per cent.
New suppliers and produce recently added to the scheme include cordials, cheeses, &#039home made&#039 cakes and fruit.
OSG spokesman Peter Couchman said: `Since we launched Local Harvest in 2003, the scheme has steadily grown offering both more local produce to our customers and supporting an increasing number of local farmers and producers.`
The products are highlighted by the Local Harvest logo and, from now on, are easier to find as they will be grouped and displayed together, rather than offered throughout the store.
The society is also giving extra dividend points to members on all Local Harvest products purchased over the first three weeks of the promotion.