Veggies Catering Campaign has a preference for fresh, locally produced foods. We aim to support local suppliers and reduce ‘food miles’. We also encourage the use of organic foods. Our entire operation is not certified as organic. A small volunteer-led grass-roots business such as ours cannot afford Soil Association certification. However we aspire to the principles of the Wholesome Food Association. We hope one day to get some ingredients endorsed by the Vegan Organic Network.
Veggies Burgers and Sausages
Veggies Burgers are made from our own mixes. The mixes are hand-made from organic ingredients in Veggies all-vegan kitchen! They include organic soya TVP from France. Although sourced as locally as possible, we are reducing the use of soya, in favour of hemp flour. This highly nutritious and is grown in the UK without artificial farm additives. It supplied by Hempen Cooperative or UK Hemp Ltd. (It previously came from Germany via Tree Harvest). Whilst the sunflower seeds in the Hemp Mix comes from China, they are ethically sourced by Dutch Organic International (Do-It).
Other organically grown ingredients include wholewheat breadcrumb, from (Do-It), oats, onion, garlic, malt flour and beetroot. . Our oats are supplied by Morning Foods from Cheshire & sourced from UK or the EU. Malt flour is supplied from Essex-based EDME, from grain grown in East Anglia.
Cakes and baked goods
We bake our own cakes in-house. When available we use organic flours locally stoneground, 2 miles away at Green’s Mill. Otherwise organic flours come (via Lembas) from Shipton Mill in Gloucestershire or Dove’s Farm in Berkshire.
Our bread and other baked goods are locally sourced from independent producers. For gatherings at the Sumac Centre, where we are based, bread is often baked in-house. When we are ‘on tour‘ we aim to source bread from other local bakers.
Condiments are from Rubies in the Rubble, using surplus ingredients. Their ketchup is made with fresh fruit & veg sourced directly from farms. Their egg-free mayo is made with citrus fibre that is usually thrown away. We buy in bulk in minimise plastic packaging.
Wholefoods and Fresh goods
Wholefoods are supplied by Lembas. They are the Sheffield-based wholefood wholesaler for the region. Their entire range is gm-free and vegetarian. They encourage the use of organic produce where available. Lembas also distribute Veggies Burger and Sausage mixes.
Vegetables are supplied by vegetable markets & stores in the heart of our local community. Although not organic, they couldn’t be fresher or more locally sourced. Subject to availability, chemical-free produce may be obtained from Ecoworks community market garden in Nottingham. We also recommend Eden Farms at Spilsby, Lincs or Red Earth Organics at Southwell, Notts. Other suppliers of locally and/or organically grown foods can be found from throughout the UK from the Big Barn website or foodcoops.org.
An increasing amount of produce, including herbs and some salad, comes from our own vegan organic urban community garden at the Sumac Centre. This supports the ideals of the Movement for Compassionate Living. MCL promotes simple living and vegan self-reliance as a remedy to the exploitation of humans, animals and the Earth. Guidance is also available from the Vegan Organic Network.
If you (or we) have to go to a supermarket, then we consider the Co-op a more ethical option. Co-op has a good policy on labelling products suitable for vegans. They share our long established commitment Fairtrade. We avoid A$da/Walmart, Tesco.and other corporate blots on the (green belt) landscape.
What we don’t use
We avoid the use of palm oil in both foods and fuel. Whilst Suma margarine (used for sandwiches & cake icing) contains sustainably sourced palm oil, our own Burger & Sausage mixes contain no palm oil – indeed no oils or fats at all. We have campaigned directly against the genetic modification of foods and the globalisation of supply.
Details of the ingredients that we don’t use are listed on the Viva’s Glossary of Animal Substances
This is why we don’t use calves milk
More details of the products that we use can be found on our Ethical & Green Policy pages.
Products made with organically grown ingredients are indicated below:
Veggies burger and sausage mixes.
Wholefood Ingredients for freshly prepared meals.
Fair trade teas & (some) coffees, (including sugar and plant milks).
Karma Cola and Gingerella
Herbs and other fresh produce from our own garden!
Zapatista Coffee helps the people of Chiapas Mexico to safeguard their own idioms & culture, organising their own access to education, health & land through direct democracy. Get Zapatista Coffee from Veggies at events with #FoodByVeggies or online at https://t.co/5O0L2NEMp5 pic.twitter.com/phrD3IpjJ5
— Veggies Catering 🌱 (@veggiesnottm) May 9, 2019
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