Locavore News by Elbert van Donkersgoed

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Author: Katie Rabinowicz

Posted: July 26, 2009

Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario

Perspectives on good food and farming

July 24, 2009

Michelle Obama introduces prime minister Gordon Brown to joys of grow-your-own

Gordon Brown’s sons have caught the grow-your-own bug, delegates on this week’s All-Party Parliamentary Gardening & Horticulture Group trip to No 10 were told. John, 5, and Fraser, 3, have both planted fruit and vegetables at the prime minister’s London home after US president Barack Obama’s wife Michelle Obama persuaded Brown’s wife, Sarah, to develop a vegetable plot at No.10. Horticulture Week Daily story.

The Food School at Centre Wellington District High School

Located in the ‘belly’ of Wellington County, this High School culinary arts program is currently being run by Chef Instructor, Chris Jess. Together with 70+ students, we’ve been working to develop an innovative program that fully highlights the diverse world of culinary arts. Website.

Characters from Walt Disney’s Pinocchio to Help Remind Moms about MyPyramid.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary Tom Vilsack has joined The Advertising Council in a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to inspire parents to adopt healthier lifestyles for their families. The campaign, which is supported by the USDA’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, features characters from the Blu-rayâ„¢ and DVD release of Walt Disney’s Pinocchio and encourages parents to visit MyPyramid.gov to find the right balance to a healthy lifestyle for their children. USDA multimedia news release.

Savour Muskoka receives $50,000 to help promote local food

Local food producers received a helping hand from the province earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Ontario government announced it has awarded a $50,000 grant to Savour Muskoka to help the organization promote local food initiatives. The money comes through the government’s $12-million Ontario Market Investment Fund, which was created to encourage consumer awareness of Ontario-produced foods and encourage people to buy locally. Bracebridge Examiner story.

Downsview Park to be centrepiece of urban farming initiative

Before it was a park, before it was a military base, the 260.6 hectare Parc Downsview Park looked over some of the richest farmland in Ontario. In the next few years, the park could become a hub for a new, urban flavour of agriculture. That, at least, is the hope of James Kuhns and Joe Nasr, co-ordinators of MetroAg Alliance for Urban Agriculture. Toronto Community News story from earlier in the year.

Obama’s garden used to inspire Irish

Irish gardening show Bloom organiser Bord Bia, the Irish government’s food and farming department, recreated Obama’s White House vegetable garden at the Dublin show to raise awareness of the value of grow-your-own. Opening the garden, US deputy ambassador Robert Faucher said: “Growing your own food can improve your well-being and sense of community, but best of all, it’s the best and freshest tasting.” Horticulture Week Daily story.

Buying into the locavore creed in New Zealand

A real locavore is not just somebody who eats local food, it is a person who has an appetite for supporting all things local locally owned shops, local events and organisations, neighbourhood groups and projects. Most importantly, a locavore is somebody who is proud of their region and the people who live there. Column in the Marlborough Express (NZ)

Pork production systems to be revealed on labels (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s billion dollar pork industry has vowed to prove consumers can have confidence in its farming practices by telling them how the products are grown. Pig farmers faced a storm of controversy this year following media coverage of pigs growing in sow crates – small cages that restrict their movement. “We believe that a focus on the way we produce New Zealand pork will also help show the consumer that the 700,000kg of imported pork and pork products arriving in New Zealand every week are produced under farming systems that are not as animal friendly as ours.” National Business Review (NZ) story.

Small meat shops caught by stricter government rules

Carl Norg says he has a great secret recipe for ready-to-eat, smoked sausages. Hundreds of people can attest to it, who came from came from miles around to buy them at the very shop, Carl’s Choice Meats, on Highway 53, just west of Rest Acres Road, where they were made on the premises. But, for several months now, Norg hasn’t been able to make them there anymore. That’s because recent government regulations have lumped his and other small, free-standing meat markets in with the big-league producers, such as Maple Leaf, which are required to follow strict processing and reporting protocols meant for plants that hire hundreds of workers. Brantford Expositor story.

Food safety bill could threaten local farmers

People who want to eat sustainably often buy food from local farms via farmer’s markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and other means. If a new bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives is passed, it could mean onerous fees and regulations for small and medium sized farmers. These fees and regulations could dramatically increase costs for farmers, translating into increased prices for consumers, or potentially driving some farms and producers out of business. Such a scenario could threaten the safe and local food system on which many rely. Examiner.com, USA story.

A fresh air festival on wheels

Re-discover the joy of a leisurely bike ride and come explore Ontario’s Greenbelt, 1.8 million acres of protected land wrapping around the Golden Horseshoe. Whether you are an avid cyclist or a recreational rider, the Tour de Greenbelt welcomes you, without the pressure of competition. Take part in any one or all four days in September of the Tour over two incredible weekends. Presented by the Friends of Greenbelt Foundation and Mountain Equipment Co-Op. Details here.