Ealing's farmers' market should be repeated in all London shopping centres according to the chairman of the new London Food Commission.

The Food Commission was launched two weeks ago and Jenny Jones, London's Deputy Mayor, was appointed as its first chairman. Jenny, also a Green Party member of the London Assembly, visited the Ealing market, in Leeland Road, West Ealing, in July as part of her tour of farmers' markets and produced a report showing the benefits.

She said: "It is not only Greens like me who see the benefits of a farmers' market. An ever increasing number of Londoners are demanding these markets to enjoy fresh, locally and ethically produced food bought direct from the farmer.

"The new London Food Commission will be looking a range of issues concerning what Londoners eat and how it gets on their plates. This pot of issues will include food tourism, access to affordable nutritious food, supporting regional farmers and reducing the environmental impact of the food we buy."

With more than 70 per cent of what Londoners eat being imported, the commission says the miles food travel is a critical issue.

At the launch of the Commission, Jenny showed the audience that instead of buying an apple imported from America which had travelled over 10,000 miles, buying one grown in Kent about 30 miles away and readily available at a farmers' market would be less harmful to the environment and provide vital support to a British farmer.