Locavore news – Ontario by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: January 28, 2010
Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario
January 27, 2010
Models and Best Practices for Building Effective Local Food Systems in Ontario
To eat is to participate in a global system, but few of us understand how this system works and our role within it. On the one hand, we have witnessed the rise of a streamlined, vertically-integrated system. On the other hand, alternative food systems have surfaced that emphasize local production, distribution and consumption. The local food movement carries with it the potential to build and foster more sustainable food systems. A local food system minimizes the distance from field to fork, with opportunities to foster long-term local economic resilience, environmental stewardship, quality food access and community and cultural integrity through a food-educated public. Summary of research by student team at the University of Guelph.
New farmers’ market launches at CBC
Toronto is getting a new winter’s farmers’ market. The Regional ‘n’ Artisanal Food Market launches Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will run monthly until April in the Barbara Frum Atrium at CBC (250 Front St. W. ). It’s the brainchild of Gurth Pretty, owner of Cheese of Canada. “In a city the size of Toronto, I do not understand why there are so few indoor regional food markets,” Pretty wrote in a news release. “During the summer months, my staff and I participate at six farmers’ markets each week in the GTA, selling Canadian artisanal cheese. Once Thanksgiving passes by, (we) and many other vendors are homeless. We have product to sell but there are so few indoor winter-market venues.” Toronto Star story.
December Icewine festival event suffers a ‘high-class headache’
The ruins of the massive sculpture on Main Street in Jordan was as clear a sign as any that something was different with this year’s Niagara Icewine Festival event. The ice sculpture — a stylized snowflake — cracked and crumbled when someone leaned on it for a photograph. The warm weather had so weakened the sculpture that it just fell apart with a little bit of pressure. “The ice pillars are holding up OK, but you can see even they are melting,” said Dori Andrews, events manager for the Twenty Valley Tourism Association, which organized the weekend event on Main Street. “But that’s OK. The weather is great and the turnout is fantastic.” St. Catharines Standard story.
Changes in the works for Cellared in Canada wine
The people have spoken, and the Ontario wine industry appears to have listened. After months of debate over labels used for Canadian-made wines containing a blend of domestic and foreign grapes, a committee has recommended turfing the contentious Cellared in Canada term that many believe misleads consumers. Being proposed by the group of wineries and Liquor Board of Ontario executives is changing labels to say ‘Blended from International and Canadian Wines’ on the front of bottles. St. Catharines Standard story.
Food association grows out of Pickering
It’s time to buy local when it comes to food, says a new group stemming out of Pickering. The Durham Culinary Association, a social networking organization to build awareness of local food and to support Durham food producers, culinary professionals and artisan food manufacturers, recently started up, and has quickly gathered interest from local restaurants, schools and politicians. Culinary Association co-founder Philippe Trepanier, a certified Chef Du Cuisine, a consultant with various hospitality venues, and Pickering resident, has long been thinking of a way for local chefs to interact and share knowledge about who’s growing what in the region. News DurhamRegion.com story.
Perth Beef Producers Told They Need Red Meat Coalition
Over 80 beef industry stakeholders gathered in Sebringville last night for the annual meeting of the Perth County Cattlemen’s Association. The topics included the impact of government regulations on local abattoirs, the “One Voice” lobbying effort, and the need for a “cost of production risk management program”. Bill Jeffrey has served as President for three years, but announced intentions to step down. He says changes at the farm level are desperately needed. Jeffrey says there needs to be a marketing strategy for all red meat because currently retailers have the control. He says the farm organizations have to join together to form a “red meat coalition.” He says it’s now time for producers to get an honest share of the consumer dollar.CKNX Wingham Radio story.
Locally Lambton map being revised for 2010
The Lambton Federation of Agriculture (LFA) and several local partners will launch a third printing of the Locally Lambton Food and Fun Map in May. The map, first printed in 2006 and again in 2008, helps people locate businesses in Lambton at which they can buy locally produced items. The map will also be online. Today’s Farmer story.
Durham Food Charter can move ahead
A Pickering councillor and advocate of local agriculture was thrilled to learn of funding for a new initiative in Durham. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation announced Jan. 22 it was providing $35,000 to the Community Development Council Durham to get the ball rolling on the Durham Region Food Charter. News DurhamRegion.com story.
Revisit the Simcoe plan
Queen’s Park is obliged to pay close attention when one of its own top planners warns that a provincial strategy meant to reduce urban sprawl and protect the environment will, in fact, do the opposite. That’s what’s in store for the Simcoe region, north of the GTA, if Ontario proceeds with its flawed intentions, according to Victor Doyle, manager of community planning at the ministry of municipal affairs. Tellingly, this senior civil servant made his views known as a “private citizen,” with a written response to the province’s call for public input on the strategic growth plan for Simcoe. The Simcoe growth plan is the responsibility of the ministry of infrastructure, not municipal affairs. One can only speculate on how far communications between these two branches of government have deteriorated when a veteran bureaucrat feels it necessary to go outside the system in order to be heard. Toronto Star editorial.
Greenbelt Council’s Progress Report 2009
Council has been very vocal about raising a variety of concerns this year and we have provided advice to you and your government on a variety of Greenbelt related issues that was often beyond the mandate of your ministry. Because of this, Council felt it needed to establish a protocol that would set out its expectations with respect to a reasonable timeframe by which your colleagues should respond to our letters of advice as they pertain to their particular mandates. I am pleased to report that our Greenbelt Council web pages are regularly updated to include new appointments, minutes from every Greenbelt Council meeting, all of our letters of advice as well as the respective responses from yourself and your colleagues. Greenbelt Council Progress Report posted on the website of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
AND if You Have Time
‘Uncle Jello’ by Nouar
Currently on display at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City, CA is “The Multiplane Group Show” which includes the piece “Uncle Jello” by the artist Nouar. She also posted some great behind-the-scenes shots on her blog revealing the process in making it. Photos of the process.