Locavore News by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: September 30, 2009
Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario
Miller Says He’s Battling For Canadian Labelling
The Chair of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee is battling processors over a push to change the Product of Canada labelling rules. Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller says the current rule says 98 per cent of the product’s main ingredients has to be Canadian to be labelled Product of Canada. He says the processors want that cut back to 85 per cent. Miller says he doesn’t think processors should have any problem hitting that 98 per cent rule when they apply it to the main ingredient in anything they produce. CKNX Radio Wingham website (audio on the site under AgBiz News, September 28).
From Junk to Funk!
Sustainable consumption is about finding workable solutions to the world’s imbalances – both social and environmental – through more responsible consumer behaviour. The aim is to ensure that the basic needs of the entire global community are met by reducing excess consumption and avoiding environmental damage. The Otesha book is a behind-the-scenes look at how our daily actions change the world! Packed with cool graphics and interesting and inspiring stories, it is designed to match the Otesha Morning Choices Play, with one phenomenal chapter for each scene of the play: chapter 5. Food. Website.
Stratford teens cultivate taste for agricultural history
What a difference six acres of donated farmland can make to a class of food enthusiasts. The land can be used by Northwestern Secondary School culinary students to grow red fife, a Canadian heritage wheat. Chef/teacher Paul Finkelstein can use this wheat to show students, literally, the path from field to plate, while bringing Canadian agricultural history to life. Guelph Mercury story.
Canada Brand Marketing Initiative announced
The Government of Canada is investing $32 million in the Canada Brand initiative to put the maple leaf brand on the top quality products Canadian farmers grow and increase sales around the world. The Canada Brand initiative will fund market analysis, advertising campaigns and public opinion research that will promote Canada’s safe, top quality agriculture. The Canada Brand initiative will work in lockstep with industry as a springboard to complement the successes already achieved in key markets. Farmer.com story.
Dairy gets grant for growth, training
Mariposa Dairy Ltd. in Lindsay has received a grant from the provincial government toward capital expenses and job creation. The manufacturer of soft goat cheese on St. David St. was successful in its application for $172,600 over two years from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund. Lindsay Post story.
Government of Canada invests in market development for Canadian specialty cheeses
The Government of Canada is delivering $48,340 to the Dairy Farmers of Canada to develop new markets for Canadian specialty cheeses. The announcement was made today by Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada news release.
Featherstone Bison Farm: Healthier alternative to beef
Husband-and-wife team Harald Mix and Nancy Grant decided to open the Featherstone Bison Farm at 201 Taylor Road East, 10 kilometres north of Gananoque, to “provide a healthy, locally produced food choice (and) utilize 150 acres of land,” they say. They chose to raise bison here because they are “interesting and challenging” animals, native to North America. Featherstone Bison Farm has been a member of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere’s Local Flavours program since 2007, an initiative that Harald says “supports local agricultural production of food, among other things, with a goal to strengthen local producers and contribute to a sustainable local economy.” Brockville Recorder & Times story.
Petrolia Farmers’ Market is growing
With construction of a new $819,000 home set to begin in the next few weeks, vendors at Petrolia’s Farmers’ Market say they’re pleased with the venture’s first year. “It has been a good little market,” said John Zekveld, after loading up a customer with fresh fruit and vegetables. “The people who have organized it have done a superb job getting the word out.” Sarnia Observer story.
Hamilton Eat Local
Hamilton Eat Local was formed in 2005 by Environment Hamilton and other community partners to support programs that encourage Hamiltonians to buy food grown by local farmers and harvest food from urban gardens and other settings that would otherwise go to waste. Hamilton Eat Local aims to increase the consumption of local food in Hamilton through two major initiatives: The Hamilton Eat Local Farm Map & Directory and the Hamilton Fruit Tree Project. Website.
Niagara College more involved in food festival
Every year, Niagara College seems to get a little more involved in the Niagara Food Festival. The peninsula’s tastiest party is a great venue for the college to be able to show off “what we have happening here in Welland, and also at our Niagara-on-the-Lake campus,” college spokesman Gord Hunchak said. “It’s a great audience and it’s a great venue. And everyone’s in a great mood when they come down to the festival for the weekend, so we thought, ‘Why not? We should be front and centre. We’re a big part of Welland so let’s make sure we’re there.” Welland Tribune story.