A MAJOR conference aimed at improving what everyone in Southampton eats will take place in the city in January.

The Food for All conference on Tuesday, January 14 will bring together a range of delegates involved with every aspect of the food chain.

It will also highlight how different sectors can successfully work together, as demonstrated by the work of The Co-operative Bunch. It is hoped that the conference will act as a catalyst for the establishment of a Southampton food network.

The programme for the first Food for All conference in Southampton was launched at the city food project, The Co-operative Bunch fruit and vegetable co-op at Orchard Lane Church, Holyrood.

Delegates to the conference in January will hear national speakers from the Food Standards Agency, the Health Development Agency and Sustain - the alliance for better food and farming- who will all set the scene on bringing food to everyone.

This will be followed by three workshops on food and health, food and the environment and food and the community.

These will feed into a final session where an action plan for the Southampton Food Network will be agreed.

Jennifer Davies, chief community development dietitian for the NHS in Southampton and one of the organisers of the Food for All conference said: "The Co-operative Bunch fruit and vegetable co-op has involved a lot of hard work from dedicated and enthusiastic people representing the public, private and voluntary sectors.

"Without everyone's valuable input, this project would not have been the success it is.

"We still have a long way to go to address all the problems faced by the people of Southampton in being able to choose a healthy diet but this project clearly shows that partnership working can be beneficial to all involved.

"Ultimately, it is about local people solving local problems."

Jonathan Holyhead, the co-ordinator for The Co-operative Bunch, said: "Our project aims to increase access to good quality and cheap fresh fruit and vegetables to those living and working in areas with restricted access to such facilities across Southampton.

"It also provides an opportunity for local residents to access skills and training and seeks to increase job opportunities."

Lawrence Scott, managing director of Mack's, the wholesaler which supplies fresh fruit and vegetables to the co-op, said: "It is very pleasing for us to see the present system working so successfully and we're extremely happy to continue our involvement with such a worthy cause."

Local MP Alan Whitehead, who will be chairing the conference, said: "Food is important to us all; after all, we are what we eat.

"That is why this conference is so important for Southampton, bringing together national speakers with a wealth of expertise and those working locally on food- related initiatives, to help lay the foundation for a Southampton Food Network."