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Challenge

How might we make local food and food producers more visible and accessible in coastal communities?

Added by
 
Melanie Foster
on 11th June 2025

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22 days remaining
Interests
  • Sustainable development
  • Community wellbeing and inclusivity
  • Place-based innovation and entrepreneurship

Coastal communities like Hamble are rich in natural beauty, local pride and a hunger for sustainability. Yet for residents and visitors alike, truly local food and products remain hidden or hard to access.

Most people want to buy local - 87% of our survey respondents said so - but the systems to support that desire are broken or invisible. 

The problem is...

People in coastal communities want to live more sustainably — to buy locally, support nearby producers and be more self-sufficient. But they can’t, because these options aren’t visible, accessible or coordinated.

This limits coastal communities ability to be sustainable (where sustainability in this case means greater resilience, local viability and stronger community connections).

Our challenge to you is this...

How might we make local food and food producers more visible and accessible in coastal communities?

Please share your ideas and help us turn answers into action.

Idea #1. Added by Kathryn Woolf | 1 day ago

A local coastal market that gives local producers a platform.
Imagine a regular coastal market that’s all about celebrating local food - the kind that’s caught, grown or made right nearby. Inspired by Stroud Farmers' Market, it could be:
• All local - from fresh fish and veg to handmade preserves and baked goods. Everything comes from nearby and you can meet the people who made or caught it.
• More than just a market – think live music, cooking demos, good coffee and community vibes. It’s a weekly event people actually look forward to.
• A place where stories matter – stallholders aren’t just selling food, they’re sharing where it came from and why it matters. You get to know the faces behind your food.
• Big on sustainability – low waste, no plastic if possible and a strong link to protecting the coast and countryside.
• A local landmark – something that attracts both locals and visitors, supports small producers, and gives the whole town a sense of pride.

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Melanie Foster | 1 day ago |

Kathryn - watch this space in Hamble ;-)

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