For buying local food from shops you could look out for organic and health food shops, either independent ones or franchises like Wellness Warehouse. They are certainly more expensive than supermarkets but then they do offer alternative goods while paying shopping mall rents. Their fresh food offerings will be local. For other things, like spreads, pulses, rice, muesli etc you have to check the label or ask to be sure.

At your run-of-the-mill supermarket you can’t avoid reading labels. But don’t let that put you off – label reading is actually not that time consuming. Most people have a standard shopping list and buy the same products week-in, week-out. You make the effort to figure out what is produced locally once, and thereafter you just repeat it on your list. On the art of reading food labels see here.

Chances are, if you buy fresh produce and it’s in season, it is local. One indicator for that can be price. You’ll know when you pay through the nose for your avocados or grapes that they are likely to be imported from Israel, Spain or elsewhere.

A word on ‘house brands’, also called store brands or private labels. Don’t assume that because it says Woolworths, Pick ‘n Pay or Checkers that it is local. Especially with long life produce price rules, ie retailers will use the cheapest source.