Locavore News Ontario by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: February 18, 2010
Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario
February 17, 2010
Urban food strategy unveiled
David McKeown is out to change the way you think about food. What you eat, where it comes from, where you buy it and how you consume it. Toronto’s Board of Health is unveiling a wide-ranging food strategy whose broad and lofty goals include creating “food-friendly neighbourhoods,” connecting city-dwelling consumers to rural producers and eliminating hunger. The strategy, which goes before the Board of Health today, is the most ambitious attempt yet by any Canadian city to reform a local food system that simply isn’t doing its job when it comes to feeding residents. Globe and Mail story.
Toronto’s Food Strategy unveiled
It is a historic day for municipal food policy. This afternoon, the Toronto Board of Health will endorse the consultation report, “Food Connections: Toward a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto.†Congratulations to the Board of Health, the Medical Officer of Health, the Food Strategy Steering Group and staff on their work. Lauren Baker, Sustain Ontario’s director will make the following deputation at City Hall this afternoon. The City of Toronto is a global leader in municipal food policy development. Across North America municipalities look to the City of Toronto, and in particular Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Food Policy Council for leadership, guidance and advice. Sustain Ontario statement.
City takes aim at “food desertsâ€
Toronto’s public health department is working on the creation of a “food strategy†that would promote healthy heating, a green economy and vibrant neighbourhoods. Toronto Star story.
Toward a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto
The next stage in the Food Strategy project – Food Connections: Toward a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto – is being submitted to the Toronto Board of Health on Feb 16, 2010. The report launches a period of public consultation and engagement.Toronto Food Strategy project website. Food Connections report.
Perth Beef Producers President: Industry Is Broken
The new President of the Perth County Beef Producers Association says the industry is broken.
Murray Brodhagen says immediate government assistance is needed because Ontario’s beef industry is in serious jeopardy. He adds the retailers seem to have too much power so there needs to be marketing changes or Perth County beef producers and there counterparts across the Province will continue to get paid very little for their product. Brodhagen says he is not a big supporter of government subsidies but something has to be done or the beef industry will be lost. CKNX Radio Wingham story.
Pork Producers Told They Need Consumer Help
Hog farmers are urging consumers to let retailers know they want to buy pork from domestic producers. Stiff competition from the U-S hog industry contributed to a disastrous year for Canadian producers in 2009. Anita Ivanauskas is a strategic marketing consultant with Ontario Pork. She says their labelling programs can help consumers identify Canadian and Ontario-grown product – but shoppers have to help create the demand for domestic pork. CKNX Radio Wingham story.
Durham Food Charter moving ahead
The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation announced January 22 that it was providing $35,000 to the Community Development Council Durham (CDCD) to put into action the goals and mandate of the Durham Region Food Charter. Endorsed by Durham Regional Council last December, the Charter reflects the community’s vision for a food secure Durham Region focused toward building a just and sustainable local food system as a foundation for population health. Sustain Ontario story.
Province invests in Bobcaygeon dairy
Kawartha Dairy Limited’s ice cream facility will be around ’til the cows come home’ after the province announced $620,000 in funding to go towards an approximately $1.24 million refurbishment at the iconic Bobcaygeon business. Kawartha Dairy Limited general manager Blake Frazer and director of operations at the family-run business, Mike Crowe joined MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Rick Johnson in making the announcement at the plant on Friday (February 5). They said up to 10 new jobs would be created as well as helping to retain the 86 existing positions. Lindsay Post story.
Farmers stand up for local abattoirs
A group of local abattoir owners and representatives of the National Farmers Union (NFU) are meeting with Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman Friday to discuss food safety regulations that are threatening the future of small abattoirs. An executive meeting of the Perth-Oxford local of the NFU is also planned for later today to consider action that could be taken in support of Mogk’s Killing and Butcher Shop south of Tavistock and other long-standing local meat processors facing onerous expenditures in order to stay in business. Stratford Beacon Herald story.
Economic study shows hefty impact
Holland Marsh farmers are discovering that when you want to change a local council’s mind, let your numbers speak for you. A recently published study on the economic impact of the area’s agriculture production has already helped change municipal council members’ minds “on a few issues,†says Alex Makarenko, chairman of the Holland Marsh Growers’ Association. Commissioned by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation with input from the growers’ association, the study reveals that the economic impact of the area’s agriculture production is more than $225 million. Better Farming story.
Green Party Leader Calls For Finance Changes For New Farmers
The leader of the Ontario Green Party says finance changes are needed to allow new farmers to get into the business. Mike Shreiner says there are sons and daughters who want to take over the family farm but they need help with land costs. Shreiner suggests an arrangement like a reverse mortgage is one way to get around the financing hurdle. He says efforts to bring a new generation of farmers into the business are hampered because existing farmers have their retirement locked up in the equity of their land. CKNX Radio Wingham story.