Local Food News — Canada

Traditional Animal Foods of Indigenous Peoples of Northern North America

A new open-access encyclopedia of more than 500 animal species that are part of traditional food systems of Indigenous Peoples in northern North America has just been launched – a tool for teachers and researchers of all kinds. It’s based, in part, on close to 500 ethnographic sources – some going back about a century. Website.

 

Pan Cape Breton Food Hub Co-Op

The Pan Cape Breton Food Hub Co-op provides the infrastructure to link producers and consumers in Cape Breton. We are a multi-stakeholder non-profit co-op that creates easy access to locally produced foods for our consumers and restaurant/retail partners, while providing producers with easier access to new markets. When you buy or sell food through the Pan Cape Breton Food Hub Co-op, you are contributing to a more vibrant local food economy and becoming part of an island wide food community. Website.

 

Local food strategy aims to boost Yukon production

The Yukon Government has created a local food strategy, hoping to increase production in the territory. The plan outlines programs and policies the government hopes to enact over the next five years. “They’re looking at more programs, and trying to help the farmers with more funding,” said Lou Clark, who was acclaimed as president of the Yukon Agricultural Association this week. CBC News story. Strategy.

 

Calgary urban farm celebrates third year as demand soars

Over the past three years, Grow Calgary has become Canada’s largest urban agricultural farm, attracted a core group of roughly 50 people, hundreds more occasional volunteers, hosted tours for schools and community groups, and donated truckloads of fresh produce to the Calgary Food Bank. Calgary Herald story.

 

75-year-old Shediac retiree opens hydroponic farming business

A retired Shediac businessman has turned his dreams of a backyard greenhouse into a hydroponic farming operation. “I have been a vegetarian for 20-years and at one time there was no local products and I wanted to try to get some better food,” said Armand Belliveau. Belliveau could not get planning approval to build a greenhouse to feed just himself and his family, so he opted to go the commercial route. He set up a business on a plot of land he owned near his home. CBC News story.

 

Soil health sensor project largest in North America

The University of Guelph project delivers 747 readings every few minutes measuring soil health. A new $2-million soil health research project aims to figure out the impact of different cropping systems on the environment. Research will also be conducted on crop productivity relating to soil health. The result should be new knowledge on productivity of traditional cropping systems versus those with cover crops. Country Guide story.

 

Local food grocery store opens in Village of Gagetown

“When we started growing our own food, it was to have good, healthy food. Then we expanded to try and grow food for some of our friends and neighbours in the community. So, we’ve just expanded on that further.” Baglole Keenan said first and foremost, the business will be a local food grocer selling its own produce and other local products in the store, but it will offer other fruits such as citrus and bananas. CBC News story.

 

Achieving What’s Possible for the Agri-food Sector: Through the Lens of Strategically Managing “Natural Capital”

Webinar: Tuesday, January 24, 2016, 4:00 pm Central CST. “Trust”, when broadly-considered, is a lens to clarify important choices facing Canada’s agri-food sector going forward. Worldwide, trust is the defining issue facing everyone involved in food production and supply. This goes well beyond food safety as countries grapple with climate change, reliably producing more without depleting water and soil quality and responding to varied consumer concerns, including nutritional quality, ethics and sustainability. Given the increasing importance of the agri-food sector to the Canadian economy, the country is well-positioned to respond to these

challenges and unleash its full potential if we look through the lens of strategically managing “natural capital” with much emphasis on rural agricultural production and rural development. Presenter: David McInnes is the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Agri-Food. Details.

 

ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) Launches in Quebec

“We’re launching an exciting new era today,” said ALUS Canada’s CEO Bryan Gilvesy on August 10, 2016, at a provincial press conference at the UPA Headquarters in Longueuil, near Montreal. A partnership between ALUS Canada and the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie, the new ALUS Montérégie program aims to help Quebec’s farmers produce clean air, clean water, more biodiversity and other ecological services to benefit all of society. ALUS Canada post.

 

Canadian Association for Food Studies

The CAFS annual assembly will be held in Ryerson University between May 27 and 30. The early bird registration deadline is March 31, 2017. Registration.

 

AND IF YOU HAVE TIME

 

Setting the table for a radically different Canadian food guide

Canada’s Food Guide is a big deal — but it can be much more influential. On the whole, the guide is a symbol Canada’s food-related values. Public institutions, schools, universities and community-based organizations look to it to reflect our fundamental nutritional principles. But past guides have failed us. Health Canada says that more than 60 per cent of Canadians are overweight and four out of five are at risk of developing heart disease. These disturbing statistics justify a call for major changes. Just blaming the food guide may be an exaggeration but the guide didn’t help. Waterloo Region Record opinion.

Local Food News — Ontario

So, artisanal chicken … yup, it’s a real thing

New policy aims to open poultry market for smaller producers. Ontario foodies and locavores can look forward to more options when it comes to summer barbecuing as a new policy ensures they’ll have better access to local chicken than ever before. A new Artisanal Chicken Policy introduced by the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) will allow small-scale chicken farmers to produce between 600 and 3,000 chickens per year, and sell them at local food stores, farmers markets and to restaurants. NorthernLife.ca story.

 

Meet the Behind the Scenes Heroes: 100KM Foods

If you’ve been following OCTA for awhile, you know we’re huge supporters of the powerhouse duo that is Paul Sawtell and Grace Mandarano.  Together, they run 100KM Foods – an award-winning local food distribution company that gives chefs access to the best products in Ontario and provides a viable sales channel for Ontario farmers and producers. Paul and Grace are dedicated to sustaining Ontario’s agricultural sector and making connections between farmers and chefs.  It’s been a beautiful thing to watch this company grow over the years as we see more and more demand for putting local food on the table. Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance post.

 

Food Entrepreneurs: Building Ontario Innovation One Product at a Time Conference

The Agri-food Management Institute, in partnership with Georgian College, is proud to present the inaugural all-Ontario conference. This conference is a province-wide conference being be held on March 3 & 4, 2016 at the Barrie Campus of Georgian College. This two-day event includes panel discussions by successful food entrepreneurs and industry experts on topics such as innovation, human resource management, food safety culture, overseeing and executing strategy, product idea viability, collaborating for growth, and more. Agri-food Management Institute post.

 

New Report Looks at Ingredients for getting Local Food in Ontario Schools

Ecosource and Roots to Harvest have just released a report, Alternative Avenues to Local Food in School: Ingredients for Success by Multiple Authors, through the Alternative Avenues Project — a collaboration with students, teachers and school board representatives in Durham Region, Peel Region and Thunder Bay, with support from the Ontario Edible Education Network. The collaboration focused on developing and testing strategies to incorporate local food procurement into secondary school food programs, while engaging students in food literacy. Golden Horseshoe Food & Farming post.

 

Assembling the Ingredients for Food Tourism in the Northwest

In just two weeks, award-winning Chef Jamie Kennedy will be visiting Thunder Bay to join farmers, chefs, government and others involved in the food tourism industry to support a one-day conference dedicated to discussing the increasing opportunities for business growth and profit-making in the sector. Food tourism has demonstrated itself in other markets as a way of bringing new money into regional economies and also as a way of raising the local profile of local food. Net Newsledger story.

 

Windsor event planner re-invents local food and lifestyle events

The idea for the night market emerged over drinks with friends, Lindsay said. Farmers markets are great … if you’re a morning person, that is. The monthly Walkerville Night Market launched in summer 2014 and made a point of featuring all-local food, vendors and musicians. This was key, Lindsay said, because she wants to make sure any event she designs serves its surrounding community or a charity. “At the end of the day it’s all fine to throw a party but it has to have some meaning behind it,” she said. The night market concept was so popular among locals and also tourists that it only took a year before it spread to Kingsville. Now there’s talk of bringing it to other county locations in summer 2016. Windsor Star story.

 

Traditional farming declining, new farming businesses emerging: report

While there has been a decline in traditional agricultural businesses in dairy, milk production and beef in Waterloo Region, new farming ventures are popping up such as those catering to the burgeoning eat local food market and hops grain production for the emerging microbrewery industry. The Agriculture Research Report, compiled by the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin, shows that from June 2012 to June 2014, the number of farm businesses in the region went down by 316. Most of the losses were in dairy cattle and milk production. Waterloo Record story.

 

Leamington Greenhouses Testing Robot Harvesters

Three Leamington area vegetable greenhouses are testing a robot to harvest produce and remove leaves from plants. The robot is being developed by University of Guelph professor Doctor Medhat Moussa. The prototype has visioning technology that allows it to identify ripe produce. It also has a pick-up arm that will let it gently – yet firmly – harvest the vegetables without damaging them. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

 

Dishing the dirt on Ontario’s most distinguished soil

Ontario is the latest province to officially designate an official provincial soil and, of the nearly 300 groups of soils available, the historically significant Guelph soil series has been awarded the title. Jeff Leal, the province’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, made the recent announcement as a send-off to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Year of Soils. FCC Express post by Owen Roberts.

 

ALUS Looking For Environmentally-Friendly Grey Bruce Projects

The Alternative Land Use Service, or ALUS, provides matching start up funding and they’ll pay rent on land taken out of production. ALUS Grey Bruce coordinator Keith Reid says projects could include exclusion fencing, tree planting, and creating wetlands and buffer zones. “ALUS recognizes the fact that some of these environmental services are benefitting all of society and the costs shouldn’t be associated with the farmer alone,” says Reid. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

 

AND IF YOU HAVE TIME

 

Growing Local, Growing Strong! Building a Sustainable and Co-operative Food System

Plans are underway for the 2016 Assembly of the Local Organic Food Co-ops Network (LOFC) – the 7th in a legacy of great networking and learning events. Workshop, speaker and plenary brainstorming has come up with some great topic areas and speakers. The Assembly will be preceded by a focused finance day (February 22, at Ignatius, Guelph) that is being organized in collaboration with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. Entitled Fair Financing for Local Food and Farms, the various workshops and plenaries will explore innovative and adaptable forms of finance.  Conversations with lenders and funders will explore various financing sources and how to build meaningful dialogue. The Canadian CED Network post.

Local Food News — Ontario

Manure and Markets – Ranting Down on the Farm

I met up with 3 fellow ecological farmers in a tomato field last week while I was delivering sustainable flowers for local event.  In general, the feeling among the farmers I talked with is somber.  Even though there is so much hype out there right now about ‘local’. Even though all the research suggests consumers are turning to more healthy food choices,   the local organic farmers I spoke with are just ‘not feeling the love’. Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable post by Theresa Schumilas.

It’s time to uncoop the urban chicken debate

But first, why keep chickens in the city? For the last six years, our family has enjoyed cooking and baking with fresh eggs — as wonderful as backyard tomatoes and cucumbers from within the 50-foot diet! My kids enjoy watching the hens pecking around in their outdoor cage. I enjoy the daily routine of feeding and watering. There are other hen-keepers who registered with city hall in 2009 who also reap the benefit of eggs coming out of their backyards. We organized three annual Chicken Coop Tours to which members of the public were invited — those who came were always very supportive. Waterloo Region Record post by Matthew Bailey-Dick.

Grocera offers online shopping for local food

A pair of young entrepreneurs believe they are among the first in Canada to connect people with sources of local food using online shopping and home deliveries. Patrick Valoppi and Niket Soni founded Grocera in February and now deliver fresh bread, meat, vegetables, fruit and snacks five days a week to customers around Waterloo Region. They fill orders at Herrle’s Country Farm Market, Sabletine Fine Pastries, Pure Organic Foods and the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market. They mark up the food and drive the orders to their customers. “The orders are just coming to the point where we have to hire extra people to help because right now it is Patrick and myself,” Soni said. Waterloo Region Record story.

Community farm moves into National Capital Commission greenbelt land

This isn’t the community garden in your local park – thanks to a lease from the National Capital Commission, Just Food farmers have found a home in Ottawa’s greenbelt. Last week, the farming non-profit signed a 25-year lease for 150 acres of the National Capital Commission’s greenbelt land. “This city-wide resource will support food and farming in Ottawa for decades to come,” said Just Food board chair, Patricia Ballamingie. The land is intended to be a producing farm, but it will also be a hub to educate residents on how food things are grown and re-connect them with agriculture. Ottawa Metro News story.

Ontario craft brewers launch self-guided ‘discovery tours’

The association representing Ontario craft brewers has launched self-guided “discovery tours” in and around the province’s protected Greenbelt region. In addition to breweries and hops farms that welcome visitors, the routes take in cheesemakers, craft cideries, farmers markets and restaurants showcasing local food. One itinerary along the south shore of Georgian Bay, from Owen Sound to Kimberley, includes three breweries, three cideries and a hops farm. CBC Hamilton story.

Fourth annual celebration of local food stops in Oil Springs

Saturday’s sold out Food Day Canada dinner, served under a tent at the Oil Museum of Canada in Oil Springs, began four years ago with a show of hospitality. “It started on a whim, actually,” said Tracy Ranick, with the Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation. Food writer Lynn Ogryzlo was planning to be in Sarnia-Lambton on that year’s Food Day Canada, a national celebration of the country’s food, and local officials offered to arrange a dinner for her. “And, in a few weeks it turned into a dinner for 80,” Ranick said. It was held at the Smith Homestead farm in St. Clair Township, featuring a menu built around locally grown and raised food. Sarnia Observer story.

Orillia Lakehead prof explores food policy

Food is the focus of Lakehead University’s latest ‘In Conversation’ event. Dr. Doug West will lead a panel discussion to explore how and why a local food procurement policy could be established in Orillia. “There are plenty of benefits to implementing this kind of policy,” explains West. “We hope this event helps to raise awareness of the importance of local food policies, while pioneering a change in attitude that would support a more sustainable community.” Simcoe.com story.

Taste Tested : Homemade Cherry Soda

I’ll be honest with you, the first time I made this soda it exploded out of the bottle and all over my friends (it still tasted delicious, just in case anyone was wondering). I have since learned that the amount of time you allow the yeast to be active is very important. Give it no more than twelve hours, and then stash it away in the fridge. The only ingredient here that most won’t have heard of is dry Champagne yeast. The good news is that not only can this yeast be found at any brew shop (wine, or beer), but it also costs next to nothing for a package that’s five times the amount needed for a small batch of soda. Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance post by Feast ON Communications Coordinator,

Five Things You Didn’t Know About the Local Food Act 2013

The first annual Local Food Report was released at the beginning of June, as an outcome of the Local Food Act 2013-legislation that is the first of its kind in Canada. Having read this short report, I wanted to present some highlights. As it turns out, there are some pretty cool initiatives that are planned or are already underway as an outcome of the Act. I found the following initiatives from the Local Food Report intriguing, and have included links to more information (where applicable), for those who are interested. Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable post by Brittany Bruce.

 

The Value Of Nature For Agriculture — A Farmer’s Perspective On The ALUS Program

When Gunther Csoff became a participant in the Alternative Land Use Services program, he never imagined the benefits would be so diverse. One of the unexpected dividends came for Asian squash. The 2011 season was the first the Csoffs’ grew Asian squash so they didn’t have good traditional knowledge of bee populations, but Csoff knew that neighbours who grew cucumbers needed to bring in hives for pollination. His ALUS planting of 10 acres of prairie grass also included some wild flowers. Last summer when walking in the area, the bees were obvious. “The field was literally buzzing when the bees were there.” He didn’t need to pay for bees to be brought in. Alternative Land Use Services post.

AND IF YOU HAVE TIME

Feeling the Heat: Ontario Greenhouse Gas Progress Report 2015

It looks like Ontario is finally “feeling the heat” on climate change policy. Until recently, the government’s decision to close its coal-fired power plants was Ontario’s main contribution to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Encouragingly, though, the Ontario government is now preparing to take the first of many necessary steps towards meeting its 2050 GHG reduction target (80% below 1990 emissions levels). Environmental Commissioner of Ontario news release.

Local Food News — Canada

What Premier Wade MacLauchlan ate for dinner, and why we care

Premier Wade MacLauchlan told a group of dignitaries what he had for dinner Wednesday, and why he gave some to federal MP Gail Shea. Both were on hand Thursday to announce provincial and federal dollars for a food research and marketing program called Canada’s Food Island. MacLauchlan’s story was an allegory for that program. He had for dinner, he said, a pizza he made with toppings of bar clams from Annand Clams of Conway, kale from the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market and Jeff McCourt’s pizza gouda cheese from Glasgow Glen, where Thursday’s press conference was held. The Guardian Charlottetown story.

New Whitehorse grocery store aims to bring local food home

Two Yukon farmers are pooling their life savings to open a new grocery store in Whitehorse. The owners of Farmer Robert’s hope to help people grow more food and stock the shelves with local produce year-round. Co-owner, Simone Rudge, says the store will stock produce, meat and bulk goods from farmers in Whitehorse and Dawson City, as well as fruit from British Columbia. She says she and business partner Robert Ryan, who runs Ibex Valley Farms, want to make it possible for smaller producers to find a market. CBC News North story.

FEED provides fresh idea and fresh food for Comox Valley

Patients at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, residents at Glacier View Lodge and students at North Island College are enjoying freshly picked vegetables, thanks to a project geared at increasing the supply of local food in public institutions. The project — dubbed FEED (Food, Environment and Economic Development) Comox Valley — is establishing a new food model for institutions that is not dependent on imported vegetables from the U.S. Comox Valley Record story.

Rick Doucet hopes local food survey will shift culture

The New Brunswick government is hoping to get a better understanding of people’s views on local food as it builds a strategy to get people buying more food that was produced in the province. The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries launched an online survey this week, asking citizens to share their local buying habits and their opinions on the issue. Agriculture Minister Rick Doucet said the online survey is designed to give consumers a chance to express their views on the importance of supporting local producers or what can be done to improve accessibility of local food and beverages. CBC News New Brunswick story.

Harper Government Announces Support for Greenhouse Project in Northwest Territories

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council today announced support for the development of a commercial greenhouse that will utilize hydroponic technology to provide locally-grown, high quality, affordable produce.

Head of the Line Services Inc. (HOTLS), an Aboriginal business based in Fort Simpson, NWT, will receive support through CanNor’s Northern Greenhouse Initiative to undertake the project. The greenhouse is expected to grow produce which will be sold to local, retail, and camp markets as well as providing employment for local people. Canadian News Wire story.

Food Day Canada explores tastes and flavours of our nation

If you don’t have any plans this coming August 1, why not throw a party. After all, it’s Food Day Canada, a time to rejoice in the flavours of our nation – and everyone from sea to shining sea is encouraged to set a table and celebrate all good things to eat that Canada has to offer. So says award-winning author and activist Anita Stewart, who has been at the helm of Food Day Canada since its conception. “When I began this event back in 2003, the goal was to collectively celebrate the foods of Canada – specifically beef, and the devastation in that industry at that time,” Stewart says. Edmonton Sun story.

Goal of Compost Study to Increase Soil Production

Soil health is being blamed for lagging potato yields in New Brunswick compared to yields in other North American potato production regions, but researchers are working hard to change that. “For New Brunswick, the industry looked at crop insurance data and, in the last 20 years, tuber yields have pretty well remained the same,” Zebarth says. Matt Hemphill, Potatoes NB executive director, says recent research suggests a soil health and soil conservation challenge. FCC Express story.

Farming, not oil, should be Canada’s future focus as temperatures rise, economist says

The second motivation for writing the book was to alert Canadians to the economic opportunities that climate change will bring. While rising levels of atmospheric carbon denude much of the value of the country’s high cost oil reserves, climate change will make other resources more valuable. None more so than the country’s arable land and its fresh water supply. In a time of climate change and ever-tightening restrictions on carbon emissions, Canada stands a much better chance of becoming an agricultural superpower than an energy one. Vancouver Sun interview with Jeff Rubin.

Harper announces expansion of Rouge National Urban Park

Mr. Harper said an additional 21 square kilometers of new lands will be added just east of Toronto in both Pickering and Uxbridge, increasing the park’s boundaries by 36 per cent to 79.5 sq. km once fully established. Mr. Harper assured that the park will be granted the highest protections of any urban park in the world, with its own legislation – the Rouge National Urban Park Act, which is said to provide investments to both conserve and restore it and ensure its enforcement year round. Globe and Mail story.

ALUS Manitoba Projects Underway

Manitoba producers Charles and Meriel Tavenor are one of the first three ALUS Manitoba projects started up this summer. The Tavernor’s emigrated to Canada from England nine years ago, purchasing a 1110 acre farm just north of Basswood, MB along the south side of the Little Saskatchewan River Valley. After having converted much of the annual cropland to perennial forages, they carefully custom graze 300 head of cattle using a mob grazing effort on small paddocks. The latest ALUS effort is part of ongoing improvements that has seen them restore and enhance wetlands, repair cuts and gullies, install offsite watering systems, planting shelterbelts and setting up rational grazing systems. Alternative Land Use Services post.

AND IF YOU HAVE TIME

Unleash your Midas touch: Adopt these seven habits of Canada’s top farmers

Country Guide asked Jack Thomson, president of the Outstanding Young Farmer organization, Rob Saik, CEO of The Agri-Trend Group, and Jerry Bouma of Toma & Bouma Management Consultants to share their insights on the things that top modern farmers do that explain why they’re ahead of the pack. Country Guide story.

Local Food News — Ontario

How Hamilton got its food truck scene into high gear

Jordan Addeo’s plan seemed simple: sell gourmet tacos from his food truck, Food Man and Culture Boy. But within weeks of owning the truck, Addeo ran up against zoning and licensing bylaws that didn’t let him operate his truck in his hometown of Guelph. After finally getting a permit from the city, which he says took almost six months, Addeo parked his truck on a privately owned lot. Four days later, bylaw enforcement insisted on another inspection of the truck, and determined that it did not have the right number of garbage cans. In the meantime, Addeo couldn’t operate the truck in the city. The Agenda with Steve Paikin post.

 

The Wild Harvest: Frenzied Fad or Food Revolution?

But what’s really going on here? Is this just the latest trend? Or are we witnessing a food revolution? Will Stolz, is the coordinator with Ontario Nature’s Forest and Freshwater Food project in Thunder Bay. The two year project educates people about safe and sustainable foraging practices. Workshops occur in and out of the forest. “We sent out a survey and found that there was a lot of people interested in foraging for wild food- even hunting,” Stolz commented. Northern Hoot story.

 

Look to Ontario farmers for local food

When it comes to food, it’s increasingly clear where Ontario is headed. The province believes local food is what consumers want, and it’s reacting accordingly. Its current course is not the way a lot of modern mainstream farmers want it to proceed. They feel their needs aren’t being met by the province, and that consumers see them as environmentally insensitive. But unfortunately for farmers, when it comes to this issue, the horse has left the barn. They now need to find ways to coexist with a movement that is seeing them differently. Guelph Mercury post by Owen Roberts.

 

Ontario’s Local Food Report: 2014-15 Edition

Ontario’s agri-food sector is a powerful economic force, generating more than $34 billion in Gross Domestic Product and sustaining more than 780,000 jobs – about one in every nine jobs in the province. The sector has tremendous opportunity for growth with the potential to contribute even more to the Ontario economy. Expanding the market for local food – food grown or harvested in Ontario or made from Ontario ingredients – is critical to realizing this potential. In consultation with the industry, the government has developed a comprehensive Local Food Strategy to guide this effort. The strategy is designed to increase awareness of, access to and sales of local food. Report.

 

Cheese or peas: there’s a food festival for you this weekend

Whether your tastes run to triple-cream brie or vegan cream pies, there’s a delicious destination for you this weekend. In Picton, less than a three-hour drive from Ottawa, the fifth annual Great Canadian Cheese Festival will feature more than 150 cheeses from 40 Canadian artisan cheese producers, including the now almost-impossible-to-obtain Laliberté, the triple-cream brie that recently won best cheese in Canada. That festival, which regularly attracts about a third of its visitors from Ottawa, also includes a strong contingent of Ottawa-area producers and products. Ottawa Citizen story.

 

Markets foster a sense of community

It’s been a movement that has grown immensely over the last decade: buy local. There are many reasons to support the buy local movement and supporting our local merchants. Chiefly among them is strengthening the local economy and keeping your dollars close to home. It’s supporting jobs in our community, whether larger chains or ma and pa shops, and helping foster a sense of community. Grimsby Lincoln News editorial.

 

Successful organic co-operative sees milk supply siphoned away

Out Standing in our Field – Dairy farmer Andrea Cumpson speaks with pride about being part of the farmer-owned Organic Meadow co-operative. “Our heart and soul goes into a product we’re really proud of, that represents our farm and cows once it leaves.” The integrity of farmers like Andrea is a big reason that Organic Meadow has grown into a successful co-operative that sells milk and other organic dairy products across Canada. But that co-op is in trouble now, because the milk they produce is being siphoned away by competing corporations to sell under big brand names. Metroland Media Kingston story.

 

Conservation Behaviour and Attitudes in the Upper Thames and Grand River Watersheds

Analysis of the information provided by the 627 farm respondents found that farmers with larger land holdings exhibit more conservation-oriented behaviour. Interestingly, there was no statistical relationship found between farm size and farm respondent’s attitudes about conservation. The study found that farmers that have owned their land for a longer period of time exhibit more conservation-oriented behaviour and a stronger conservation ethic. It was also determined that farmers with higher debt loads tend to have lower conservation ethic scores and that older farmers exhibit more conservation-oriented behaviour than younger farmers. Stewardship Network of Ontario post.

 

Defining the Environmental Footprint

Funded by the National Check-off and Canada’s Beef Science Cluster, researchers are currently working to gather and assimilate information to define the Canadian beef industry’s environmental footprint. This information will provide the beef industry with balanced, factual information to justify the environmental attributes of the Canadian Beef Advantage, assess the environmental goods and services provided by Canada’s beef industry, and identify ways in which different sectors of the industry can improve their environmental performance. The study will also enrich the Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability Assessment being done by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry post.

 

Committee Pushing For ALUS In Huron County

Huron County could be getting an Alternative Land Use Services program. The Huron County Water Protection Steering Committee is asking the county to help implement the program. ALUS involves compensating landowners, like farmers, for using sound environmental practices on their lands. Committee Chair Jim Ginn says the program requires the support of the broader community. ALUS programs are running in 5 Ontario municipalities, including Bruce and Grey Counties. Ginn feels it would make long-term sense for Huron to get behind the program as well. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

 

AND IF YOU HAVE TIME

 

Longest picnic table in the world

Come take part in the Durham Harvest Picnic—an exciting community collaboration for a cause! The longest picnic table in the world, accommodating more than 500 participants, will be set on Saturday, Augu st 15th, at the south end of Victoria Fields on Gordon St. in Whitby. On Friday, August 14th, a team of more than 100 volunteers will build the picnic table. After the event concludes, the wood and fasteners used to build the table will be donated to Habitat for Humanity Durham for the outside framing of four houses in Oshawa. Durham Festival post.

Local Food News — Ontario

The Local Dish – Calling All Foodies

The Local Dish is a campaign with a big dream – to create Toronto’s largest collection of local food recipes on Pinterest with the help of foodies just like you. We welcome all kinds of recipes – your own original recipes, and recipes created by others. Our goal is to make it easy for people to choose locally-grown food more often – both at home and on the go. Fresh, delicious and local – what’s not to love? Website.

 

InstaBuggy delivery service launches in Toronto

It just got even faster for consumers to have groceries delivered in downtown Toronto. A startup called InstaBuggy launched its grocery delivery service on Monday. Now in pilot stage, the service says it will get groceries to customers’ homes or offices in one hour. To order groceries, users visit InstaBuggy’s website or use its app, put in their postal code and choose which store they’d like their groceries from. Users can pick from a selection of stores in their area. InstaBuggy’s online portal contains more than 10,000 SKUs to shop. Once an order is made, groceries are delivered in an hour. Canadian Grocer story.

 

Grocery Gateway to start delivering wine, spirits

Starting Thursday, Grocery Gateway will deliver wine and spirits to your door, providing you also order $45 worth of groceries before taxes. “Introducing LCBO wines and spirits to Grocery Gateway really completes our vision of delivering everything a shopper wants to enjoy a great meal,” said Anthony Longo, president and chief executive officer, Longo’s, which owns Grocery Gateway. The wine-and-spirits delivery service is set to debut on the same day the provincial Liberals deliver the budget, which is expected to include details of how beer sales in grocery stores will work. Toronto Star story.

 

Gardens Aren’t Farms

Bartholomew developed ‘square foot gardening’. This new design is more efficient as less space, time, and money are wasted, and more effective as the harvest is more continuous[1].  Square foot gardening is ideal for city dwellers in the Waterloo Region who are growing only a few crops in a small space like a backyard or community garden plot. Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable blog.

 

How Ag & Food Can Help Ontario Health And Wellness

Scott Graham argues there are direct connections between our health and the food we eat. Graham is Chair of the President’s Council – a broadly based coalition of 35 Ontario agriculture and food groups. The Council recently released a report called Agri-food For Health Strategy. It makes specific recommendations on how agriculture and food production in Ontario can help provincial health and wellness initiatives. The strategy suggests Ontario residents can be healthier if the province’s farm and food sectors commit to increased collaboration. It also calls for improved food literacy and skills, innovation for healthy food availability and increased nutritional awareness. Blackburn AgriMedia story. Report.

 

Woodstock-Area Cheese-Maker Among National Winners

Four Ontario cheese companies were among the winners in this year’s Canadian Cheese Grand Prix. Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese from the Woodstock area had the top Farmhouse Cheese in the competition. Local Dairy Products from Ingersoll had the top Mozzarella. The best Fresh Cheese in the competition came from Quality Cheese in Vaughn. And the St. Albert Cheese Cooperative had the best Aged Cheddar, more than three years, in the competition. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

 

Avian Influenza Concerns Postpone Breakfast On The Farm

The Breakfast On The Farm event scheduled for June has been postponed because of the recent cases of Avian Influenza in Oxford County. While Breakfast On The Farm offers a significant outreach opportunity for the province’s farm community, organisers decided the risk to the poultry industry outweighs any potential benefits. Almost 900 tickets had already been reserved for the Oxford county event. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

 

ALUS Program Earns Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

The Alternative Land Use Services program was one of nine Ontario entities to earn the 2013 Minister’s Award for Environment Excellence in January. The honour was designated to those demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental excellence. Recipients of the award collaborated with communities and local volunteers to restore wildlife habitat, conserve water and energy, and prevent pollutants and nutrients from entering the Great Lakes. As an incentive-based program, ALUS helps farmers and ranchers improve their crops and livestock, while conserving and restoring native habitats. Farmers are rewarded for land management practices that create productive agricultural systems and a healthy countryside. Alternative Land Use Services post.

 

Creating Dialogue About Farmers Ongoing Stewardship Commitment

It’s a chance to showcase farmers ongoing stewardship commitment. CleanFarms is running the Great Ontario Clean Farms Challenge this year. General Manager Barry Friesen says the challenge is designed to help create a dialogue about the on-farm innovations that help farmers reduce, reuse and recycle agricultural waste. The winner gets a 5 thousand dollar cash prize. Blackburn AgriMedia story. CleanFarms Website.

 

Permitted uses in Ontario’s Prime Agricultural Land

The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance’s feedback session on OMAFRA’s PPS Guidelines on Permitted Uses in Ontario’s Prime Agricultural Areas attracted a crowd on March 20. Hosting tourists at an on-farm bed and breakfast, making pies with farm apples, processing hops from neighbouring farms, and other “value-added” activities are an asset to rural communities and a treat for tourists, but understanding which of these activities are allowed where can be challenging for farmers, other rural land-owners, and municipal staff. To respond to this challenge, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has developed draft guidelines on what is permitted in prime agricultural areas, to help in interpreting the policies in the 2014 Provincial Policy Statement on the range of uses permitted in prime agricultural areas. Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation post.

 

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Ending hunger in our lifetimes

The 10th Annual Summit of “Universities Fighting World Hunger” will be held in Guelph, Ontario, Canada on 20-22nd February 2015. Now is the time to review our successes and challenges and to look forward to the next decade of achievement. Therefore, the theme for the Summit is “Pushing towards the next decade”. Website.

Local Food News — Ontario

Dollars and Sense: Digging into Local Food Opportunities – Online Webinar April 27 1:00 to 2:30 PM

Published in January 2015, Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario’s Food System encompasses the first research of its kind in Canada on the economic and environmental impacts of food production in southern Ontario, where roughly 98 percent of the province’s food is produced. This keystone report, produced by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the Metcalf Foundation, and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, looks at a number of scenarios to study the potential impacts of shifts in food consumption and production. Join two of the report’s authors, Dr. Rod McRae and Dr. Atif Kubursi, and moderator Beth Hunter, Program Director with the McConnell Foundation, for a special 90-minute webinar on April 27th to discuss their findings and understand the research process behind Dollars & Sense and its extensive background reports. Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable post.

The Law Leaves Room for Local Food

Local food has economic, environmental, health and community benefits.  But many municipalities wishing to support local food are afraid to show local preference for fear of contravening procurement and trade laws. In a webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario on February 25th, a panel of public procurement experts agreed that trade agreement compliance for local food procurement is about how you structure the ask.  A current Request For Proposals by Concordia University demonstrates the potential to leverage  public tax dollars by requesting that 75% of produce purchased in the summer is local. Sustain Ontario media release. Concordia post.

Ryerson University Goes Locavore

It’s out with the powdered potatoes and frozen pizza and in with the local, fresh and culturally diverse, as activist chef Joshna Maharaj transforms Ryerson University’s campus food. “The history that we inherit is this tradition of really low-quality food at often very high prices and no thought to what the campus actually needs,” said the self-described activist chef, whose previous stints include Scarborough Hospital and The Stop Community Food Centre. Toronto Star story.

Food Strategy Strengthens Connections to Local Food Procurement

The City of Thunder Bay along with partners of the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy and stakeholders from the local food sector will gather on Thursday, Feb. 19, to discuss the results and next steps of the Institutional Local Food Procurement project undertaken in the community over the last few years. The workshop concludes the research portion of the Province of Ontario/ City of Thunder Bay Greenbelt-funded initiative to increase the purchase and use of locally-sourced foods in the City of Thunder Bay long-term care and child care facilities. Thunder Bay Food Strategy post.

Food Processors See Opportunity in Local Food Movement

Another Ontario group sees potential from the local food movement and the call for more ‘Made In Ontario’ food products in public institutions. This time it’s Food and Beverage Ontario – the group representing more than 3 thousand food and beverage processors in the province. FBO recently held a workshop in Mississauga to look at ways for its members to tap into what it sees as the multi-million dollar market potential in that sector. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

Vegetable grower starts small to grow big

Nathan Klassen might not have grown up on a farm, but for as long as he can remember, he’s wanted to be a farmer, so in 2011, in the midst of North America’s record-smashing run-up in the price of farmland, he made that dream come true. Klassen was 24 that year, and he bought his first patch of farming ground. But whether, at 75 acres, you’d call that patch a farm probably depends more on who you are than on any definition you’ll find in a dictionary. For some of his neighbours, 75 acres is more like a big backyard than a working farm. Country Guide story.

Smartphone app helps promote healthy, local food options

Eating fresh, local food can have numerous health benefits and also help the local economy. But finding those local options isn’t always easy. A new smartphone app called SmartAPPetite, developed by researchers at Wilfrid Laurier University and Western University, is looking to make it easier for people to “eat local” and connect with healthier food options. Launched in late November, the app provides users with daily, customized messages, which include nutrition tips, recipes and information on where to find local food options based on the user’s location. The app promotes the motto “Buy Local, Eat Smart, Get Healthy,” and aims to not only encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle, but also boost the local food economy. Exchange Morning Post story.

Food Ventures back for 2015

The Food Ventures program started by local businessman Steven Cheung returns for the 2015 farmer’s market season. The initiative helps foster new local food vendors by providing a grant to cover the cost of renting a space at the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market for 10 weeks in the summer. Cheung said this year he would like to sponsor more than one new vendor for the season. Windsor Star blog.

How vegetables ditched their reputation for boring

At his southwestern Ontario farm, Antony John has developed a small army of followers for turnip. This turnip is not, he hastens to add, that “orange muck” that is sometimes dropped onto dinner plates at Thanksgiving. Instead, customers at his vegetable farm are craving his baby yellow turnips, which can be transformed into something “glazed and golden and sweet and caramelly” when cooked according to a recipe from a renowned French chef, which John happily shares. CBC News story.

Elbert van Donkersgoed: Compensation ‘Should Not Be in ALUS Conversation’

A consultant says it’s time to change the conversation around ALUS to remove the word ‘compensation’. ALUS is the Alternative Land Use Services program. Elbert van Donkersgoed told members of Huron County’s Water Protection Steering Committee that good environmental practices are things farmers produce just like the crops they grow. He argues that while no one has figured out how to pay for those goods and services yet, we should replace the term ‘compensation’ with something that better reflects a payment for goods and services. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

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Terroir Symposium: Pioneering Change Crafting The Way We Eat, May 11, 2015

This year’s theme, “Pioneering Change,” will focus on influential individuals who challenge colleagues and consumers to rethink and reimagine food and beverage cultures.  As industry professionals, we have the power to effect change in how societies eat and drink and to create legacies that impact and strengthen the hospitality industry.  For our 9th edition of Terroir, we will invite culinary pioneers to discuss their stories, their passions and ultimately the way in which their journey in our industry has had an effect on our culinary landscape. Website.

Local Food News — Ontario

Compensation ‘Should Not Be In ALUS Conversation’

A consultant says it’s time to change the conversation around ALUS to remove the word ‘compensation’. ALUS is the Alternative Land Use Services program. Elbert van Donkersgoed told members of Huron County’s Water Protection Steering Committee that good environmental practices are things farmers produce just like the crops they grow. He argues that while no one has figured out how to pay for those goods and services yet, we should replace the term ‘compensation’ with something that better reflects a payment for goods and services. Van Donkersgoed adds there are some great environmental goods and services associated with productive farm land which are of great value to consumers and other businesses. Blackburn AgriMedia story.

Indoor Local Food Festival Returns This May

How do you get to experience the best restaurants and local eats all in one night? At the Battle of the Hors D’Oeuvres! The 29th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters event is an indoor food and drink festival and organizers say the idea is all about interaction. Participating restaurants and food establishments will battle it out in a competition for their chance to win two award: guests will have a chance to be food critics and vote for their favourites to win the “People’s Choice Award”, while a panel of expert judges will choose the “Critic’s Choice Award” winners. WindsoriteDOTca News story.

Craft brewing booming in Waterloo Region

As the craft beer trend continues its cult like following, Waterloo Region is leading the way in Ontario. “It’s very much in lockstep with the local food movement too. I think people right around the world want to have a real connection with the food that they’re buying, the drinks they’re having,” says Steve Beauchesne with Ontario Craft Brewers. “It really speaks well to the quality of craft beer as well. We’re using traditional ingredients, we’re using traditional brewing methods and we’re making very good beer.” 570 News story.

The Local Dish

The Local Dish is a campaign with a big dream – to encourage people to enjoy more of the fresh and delicious food that’s grown right here in Ontario. With your help, we’re looking to create Toronto’s largest collection of local food recipes, and make it easy to choose local more often at home, on the go, and when dining out. City of Toronto post.

Local Food Event Volunteers Needed

EAT 2 FEED TO is a socially good dining series launched by GOOD FOOD FOR GOOD, a social food enterprise. The idea behind EAT 2 FEED TO is simple: enjoy a world cuisine inspired dinner with fresh, local food in a unique Toronto venue and raise funds to fight hunger in our community. The first venue for EAT 2 FEED TO is the historic Montgomery’s Inn where the GOOD FOOD FOR GOOD team will be serving a 3-course dinner on Friday, May 1st. 100% of the profits from the event will go to FoodShare Toronto to help deliver healthy food and food education to Toronto communities. Please visit the EAT 2 FEED TO webpage to learn more. GoodWork.ca post.

Halton summit tackles food tourism

At the Halton Food Tourism Summit, chefs, farmers and restaurateurs heard about how to take steps to sustainability, the title of the second annual meeting. About 70 people gathered in the Gambrel Barn at Country Heritage Park on March 26 to hear about projects bringing the culinary and farm communities together. The summit aims to put more local food on restaurant tables and foster growth in culinary tourism. Ontario Restaurant News story.

MPP Clark Hosted Information Session on Food Tax Credit on Wednesday

Food banks and community food programs from across Leeds-Grenville joined representatives from local farm organizations on Wednesday, April 8 to learn more about the province’s Community Food Program Donation Tax Credit. The information session was hosted by Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark and featured a presentation by Mara Shaw and Jan Link of Kingston’s Loving Spoonful food program. Eastern Ontario Network post.

Startup launches local food app

Sourcing local food is going high tech. Barrie-based tech startup ei•ei•eat has created a new social-mobile application for the growing market of buyers turning away from imported and processed foods in favour of those produced closer to home. Launching across Canada this spring, and now a staff pick on crowdfunding website Kickstarter, ei•ei•eat brings the people and places in the local food ecosystem together on one fun and engaging application. Its creators are determined to make it easy for consumers and wholesale buyers to find and verify local food from farmers, markets, restaurants, micro-producers and retailers. Simcoe.com story.

Local food costs more for good reason: Halton food summit hears

People need to “get over” how much it costs to buy locally-sourced food and support farmers to ultimately create a sustainable food system. That bold sentiment was among the messages delivered Thursday during the second annual Halton Region Food Tourism Summit, which brings together the local farming and culinary communities to help them put more locally-sourced foods on restaurant tables and support a viable economy. Inside Halton story.

U.S. economist touts Scarborough as ‘best ethnic food suburb’

American economist Tyler Cowen recently posed that question in a blog post after tagging alongside representatives from the University of Toronto Scarborough’s multidisciplinary food studies initiative for a tour of the area’s ethnic offerings last week. “I concluded Scarborough is the best ethnic food suburb I have seen in my life, ever, and by an order of magnitude,” wrote Cowen, author of An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules for Everyday Foodies. Toronto Star story.

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Ontario doesn’t grow enough food to feed itself, but it could: Study

A study from a McMaster University professor says increasing Ontario’s local food supply would create thousands more jobs in the province, including almost seven thousand in Hamilton, while benefiting the environment and making us healthier eaters. The study, Dollars and Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Ontario’s Food System, says that Ontario does not produce enough food to feed itself, but has the potential to do so. Harvest Hastings post. Study.

Local Food News — Ontario

Sudbury hospital increases local food on menu

Mark Burton, of Rock Garden Cafe, cooks meat and poultry on a barbecue at the Berry Festival Barbecue at the outdoor courtyard at Health Sciences North on Wednesday. The barbecue was held by the hospital and Marek Hospitality, which runs the cafe, to show their commitment to the 2014 Ontario Local Food Challenge. The event featured local food such as strawberry and blueberry pies, jams and Ontario chicken and bison. The challenge is a provincial initiative to encourage institutions to have more local food in their menus. The Sudbury Star story.

 

Roaming Thunder Bay restaurant launches new mobile app

As a chef and restaurant owner, Nikos Mantis is always looking for ways to connect with diners. Now he’s turning to technology. A smartphone app has just been released for his mobile eatery the Local Motion food truck. By using the app, diners can find the location where the food truck will be parked each week. Google maps provides walking, biking and driving directions to the eatery. The menu is posted as well. CBC News story.

 

Savour Fair at Landman, August 24

Come to the farm for an afternoon of all the best food, drink and art from the region! Stroll through the many flower and vegetable gardens. Sample the delicious food that locals chefs and caterers have prepared, using the best local ingredients. And make sure to stop at the market place on your way home to purchase many local products, from cheeses to soaps to honey and maple syrup! Proceeds from event will be awarded to local high school students pursuing their education in the agriculture field. Landman Gardens post.

 

Ontario Tofu Makes Its Debut at the Durham District School Board for Local Food Week

The Durham District School Board has partnered with Ecosource and Compass Group Canada to turn teens on to local foods through education and increased Ontario foods offered in secondary school cafeterias. To celebrate the inaugural Local Food Week in Ontario, the Cafeteria Connects: Bringing Ontario Foods to Secondary School Cafeterias project will bring a unique local food product to Durham cafeterias – Ontario Tofu! Ecosource media release.

 

Greenbelt Fund Fills the GAP

With support from the Greenbelt Fund, more Ontario farmers will be serving up fresh, safe, local produce for all Ontarians to enjoy. Through the Introduction to Food Safety Training project, the Fund will help farmers to better understand the basics of food safety and how to get certified so that they can access larger markets such as schools, hospitals, and grocery stores. This project will assist farmers in implementing and documenting food safety procedures on their farms to help them obtain CanadaGAP certification. Greenbelt Fund news release.

 

Kawartha Lakes 100 Mile Dinner

On Monday, September 8, local Chefs Andy Brooks from the Olympia Restaurant and Andrew Munro of Pane Vino Trattoria and Wine Bar will be combining their incredible talents in support of Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes during the 6th Annual Kawartha Lakes 100 Mile Dinner. The event features a mouth-watering buffet experience using products and produce raised and grown in Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding area. Kawartha Lakes post.

 

Taste Local! Taste Fresh! 2014

Foodlink Waterloo Region staff and volunteers are busily planning the finishing touches for the 11th annual Taste Local! Taste Fresh!, the not-for-profit’s signature fundraising event. The event will be held on September 14th, with chefs and suppliers spread across the beautiful and fitting grounds of Steckle Heritage Farm. The event is the largest fundraiser for Foodlink, with proceeds helping the organization fulfill its mission to promote local food, support and connect farms and food businesses, provide local food education and outreach in our community, and engage decision makers in putting local food policy on the community’s agenda. Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable post.

 

ALUS Norfolk signs MOU with the Ontario South Coast Wine Growers Association

Earlier this year, OSCWGA and ALUS Norfolk co-signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose of developing a partnership that will help OSCWGA members create healthy landscapes that support wildlife, natural spaces and optimal agricultural sustainability of vineyards and wineries. ALUS Norfolk will work towards creating or enhancing a suitable project on each of the OSCWGA member properties. We will also provide communication tools to the winery employees that describe the project benefits.  Through this approach our aim is to demonstrate secondary market benefits such as clean water, erosion control, increased wildlife habitat and pollinator species, sediment uptake, etc.Alternative Land Use Services post.

 

Growing Food Resilience

Ontario farms some of the most fertile agricultural lands in North America. Yet we also import millions of tonnes of fresh food every year. With droughts in California, Brazil and Australia and soil contamination in China putting severe pressure on food from foreign lands, The Agenda examines how well prepared Ontario’s food system is to withstand turbulent times. The Agenda video.

 

Archive of Agri-Environmental  Programs in Ontario before 2000

Over the 11-year period from 1986 until 1997, there was a series of Federal-Provincial initiatives which delivered excellent environmental programs, focussing on improving the sustainability of production agriculture in the Province of Ontario, while reducing pollution in the Great Lakes Basin. The overall funding for these programs approached $100 million. There are more that 830 reports, along with environmental program information on the web site. It is a valuable resource for environmental policy planning. Programs and reports from the SWEEP, PLUARG, CURB and more are included in the archive. Archive.

 

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Globalization and Food Sovereignty: Global and Local Change in the New Politics of Food

In recent years, food sovereignty has emerged as a way of contesting corporate control of agricultural markets in pursuit of a more democratic, decentralized food system. The concept unites individuals, communities, civil society organizations, and even states in opposition to globalizing food regimes. This collection examines expressions of food sovereignty ranging from the direct action tactics of La Vía Campesina in Brazil to the consumer activism of the Slow Food movement and the negotiating stances of states from the global South at WTO negotiations. With each case, the contributors explore how claiming food sovereignty allows individuals to challenge the power of global agribusiness and reject neoliberal market economics. University of Toronto Press book announcement.

Locavore News — Ontario

Locavore News — Ontario

 

SmartAPPetite Wants to Talk to You — Local Food Connected through Apps and Maps

The SmartAPPetite Project is developing a smartphone ‘app’ and an interactive website and would like to learn how such technology can benefit local communities from ‘field-to-fork’. Our goal is to encourage customers to eat nutritious food and buy it locally. So we want to talk to you and figure out how to make it work! We have scheduled workshops to meet with and talk to local food business owners. Please see SmartAPPetite’s workshops to find a location nearest you. The workshops are free and light refreshments will be provided. Website.

 

Insights from the Willeys

It was incredible good fortune that Tom and Denesse Willey led the first workshop I attended at my first 1988 California Eco-Farm Conference. I cannot imagine a better introduction to establishing a market garden. They started by telling us to not pay too much attention to all the other workshops that emphasized low-cost production. And they encouraged us to not pay too much attention to the fine folk who relentlessly struggle on small homesteads with mediocre land. What the Willeys did emphasize is the importance of paying attention to basic good business information: David Cohlmeyer newsletter.

 

Feeding Cities: Rural-Urban Connections and the Future of Family Farming

This two-day conference will gather scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners working on issues concerning family farming, sustainable food systems, and food security. Speakers from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Africa will explore issues concerning the status and future of family farming around the world. On the second day of the event, participants will gather in smaller groups to discuss specific questions in a workshop format. Answers derived in each workshop will then be shared in a plenary session at the end of the event. Participants will also select themes for follow-up research and/or future conferences. Website.

 

Looking for sweet success with maple sap drink

An Arthur entrepreneur is hoping his upscale maple sap beverage will help him tap into the lucrative upscale water market. Keith Harris quit his job as a senior manager of an auto parts manufacturing plant five years ago to start KiKi Maple Sweet Water, a 100 per cent natural drink comprised almost entirely of raw maple tree sap. Guelph Mercury story. Website.

 

Build a Greenhouse for New Farmers

FarmStart is raising funds to build a greenhouse at the McVean Farm Start Up Farm. With your help we can give new farmers a head start on growing more local food! IndieGoGo campaign.

 

Local food in hospital faces logistical challenges

An international food advocate was in Canada this week, trying to promote healthy eating in hospitals around the world. Alex Jackson has seen the quality of hospital food deteriorate in his home country of Great Britain for the past 20 years, so he quit his job and started the Campaign for Better Hospital Food. He’s seeing similar issues here in Ontario, where many patients say the best part of a hospital meal is the jello. CBC News story.

 

Sustain Ontario Advisory Council Election Nominations Launched

Are you passionate about the future of food and farming in Ontario? Do you want to be a part of a dynamic, smart and informed group of change-makers from across the province and across sectors? Are you ready to learn, connect, share, and take action? Then you should run for the Sustain Ontario Advisory Council! Sustain Ontario post.

 

Whitby mushroom farm to receive $4.1 million from Province

Ashburn residents can breathe easier after 20 years of being stifled by noxious odours wafting from a nearby mushroom compost facility. The Province of Ontario recently announced it will provide Greenwood Mushroom Farm, located in north Whitby, with $4.1 million toward the construction of a $16.5-million facility that will remove smells from the mushroom composting process. Clay Taylor, managing partner at Greenwood Mushroom Farm, said the announcement creates a win-win situation, “supporting technology-based solutions, which will resolve community concerns and introduce green technology to the sector while providing a solid platform for the continued growth and prosperity of local food production.” Metroland Media story.

 

Ontario’s new Provincial Policy Statement will legalize a broad range of on-farm businesses

On April 30, 2014, Ontario’s new Provincial Policy Statement [PPS] will come into effect. With it will come countless business opportunities previously prohibited in Agriculture zoned areas. The importance and effect of the PPS is generally underappreciated from a municipal law and land use perspective. It is common to discover municipal officials being totally unaware of its contents – especially as it relates to agriculture. Simply put, the PPS has great importance and effect. Section 3(5) of the Planning Act compels municipalities to make decision and enact bylaws which are consistent with the PPS. In other words, municipalities have no choice but to follow the PPS. Kurtis Andrews blog.

 

ALUS Bayham First Demonstration Farm

On June 6th, 2014  ALUS Bayham celebrated the establishment of their first demonstration farm. The farm, M&R Orchards produces several varieties of apples and is operated by Helmut and Monika Michel as well as their daughter Jeannine and son in law Uwe Richter. Apples produced on the farm are sold as is and are also used to create gelato ice cream and apple cider, which are all sold at their onsite store. In addition to apples they also produce honey and other bees wax related products from the beehives used to pollinate their apple trees. ALUS utilized marginal areas throughout the Michel’s farm to improve and create pollinator habitat by establishing several acres of native prairie grass mixed with wild flowers. A pollinator hedgerow and large wetland were also enhanced to provide benefits to both the environment and the Michel’s farming operation. Alternative Land Use Services post.

 

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The Ontario Christian Gleaners: A Case Study of a Stakeholder-Engaged Organizational Strategy

The Ontario Christian Gleaners (OCG) gathers, dries, and distributes produce destined to be waste and creates value by processing dried soup mixes and fruit snacks using volunteer labour. This case study examines the roles of relationships in the OCGs strategy, operations, and management using a strategic management framework that incorporates value creation and trading. Data was collected from secondary sources, site visits, and interviews. The case examines how relationships with primary and secondary stakeholders are managed to create value.  Primary stakeholders are individuals, groups, and organizations with formal, regular, contractual or transactional relationships with an organization. Abstract.