Small scale food retailers, struggling in the UK (and many other countries) by massive monopolising corporations, are beginning to be joined in the battle by alternative food outlets. The fight rages on several fronts.

Farmers markets are going from strength to strength in many diverse parts of the UK. Whilst in the recent past these would have been a few overpriced stalls on a wet Wednesday in many towns, some are now fantastically vibrant and even supported and promoted enthusiastically by local authorities.

For example, Stroud in Gloucestershire recently won the UK farmer's market of the year award.

The farmers’ market takes over the winding streets of Stroud every Saturday from 9am to 2pm. At its core is the Cornhill Market Place where the market started in July 1999. Steady growth in the number of stalls meant that the farmers’ market has spilled out into surrounding streets making surprises at each turn for the first-time visitor. On average there are 45 stalls attending every week. -- farmersmarket.net

This is particularly encouraging for anyone who remembers the Stroud of 20 years ago -- an unremarkable small town in Western England that few bothered to visit. It had many empty shops and an air of boredom. Today the green economy is booming; there are several local alternative currencies and other green initiatives.

On another front, an exciting movement in local food is starting to expand. Known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), the idea essentially mixes allotment vegetable growing and organic box schemes. Local people pay regularly for vegetables -- as you would in any vegetable box scheme -- but the added aspect is that they are actually expected to contribute some energy of their own to the growing process. Fortunately for those people (like me) who do not have the patience to grow their own, the regular payments by members into the scheme allows employment of professional growers to work alongside the members, to ensure that there is a regular supply of food throughout the year. The beauty of the idea is that it starts to reconnect consumers with the earth, allowing them to understand for themselves the ebb and flow of natural cycles and the way it affects the food they eat. Early pioneers were also from Stroud, as well as elsewhere in the UK.

Finally, a handful of independent food stores are attempting to compete directly with the supermarkets. Unicorn grocery in Manchester recently won an award in the Observer newspaper.

Although their watchwords are vegan, organic, sustainable and fairly traded, there's nothing worthy about Unicorn Grocery. Instead, picture a trendy, bustling deli selling everything from burritos to vegan burgers, calzones and cakes -- many of them gluten-free. Elsewhere stock up on seasonal, unpackaged fruit and veg. They even sell 'cruelty-free' booze, made using no animal by-products and a range of fair-trade rums and wines. And it's not just their suppliers who get a good deal -- Unicorn is a workers' cooperative, so all employees are part-owners. Their latest initiative? A wetland on the shop roof, designed for endangered birds. There's nowhere better for guilt-free goodies. -- Observer

Ludlow, on the English-Welsh border, has a fantastic food centre which claims to source 80% of its products from local suppliers. In a very impressive building, the store competes easily with supermarkets for quality local produce.

In Moreton-in-Marsh, another small town in Gloucestershire, a local businessman bought a franchise from the previously not-very-impressive small chain Budgens. Guy Warner, who owns several local car dealerships, has made a special effort to stock local produce in the store, so consumers can see bread from the local artisan baker Bread and Co. alongside standard supermarket produce. Whilst there are certainly some problems with this model, it is really pleasing to see that there is life in locally owned independent stores, and that supermarket consumers will purchase local products when they are available and promoted enthusiastically.