Survey on the Definition of “Local” Food
Posted: August 6, 2013
Categories: News from Sustain Ontario
Sustain Ontario is seeking your input on how and if we should define “local” food. The survey will take 10-20 minutes of your time. All input is welcome until September 20th [previously August 23rd] and will be aggregated to feed into a letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
On May 10 of this year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency greatly expanded its definition of local food. Historically, the CFIA has defined local food as food produced within 50kms of where it’s sold or food originating within the same local government unit (e.g. municipality) or adjacent government unit.
The new interim policy, however, has expanded that definition to include food produced within the province in which it is sold, or within 50kms of the province of origin.
This abrupt redefinition has caused concern across the country, as consumers and producers grapple with the potential outcomes. As a movement, locavorism has espoused the merits of a smaller supply chain; a reduced carbon foot print; the potential for fresher, healthier produce; and the economic benefits of buying locally sourced products. But what exactly constitutes “local” and who should define it is still a complex question.
The CFIA is currently responsible for the administration of food labelling policies related to misrepresentation and fraud with respect to food labelling (e.g. nutrition fact tables), packaging, and advertising. It is also responsible for regulating the safety and quality of food sold in Canada.
Likewise, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) conducts extensive marketing programs for Ontario farm products both domestically and internationally (e.g. Foodland Ontario promotions).
Beyond that, a host of “buy local” programs exist within the province. Local branding initiatives such as Savour Stratford and Taste Real Guelph market regionally specific products. Meanwhile, organizations such as Local Food Plus offer sustainability certification for Ontario farmers. Examples abound of stakeholder initiatives that exist outside the realm of government, offering consumers vital information about the products they choose to buy.
Included below is a brief survey for Sustain Ontario members.This survey is designed to empower Sustain Ontario to accurately represent our members’ views to CFIA during the food labelling review process. Please complete the questions below to the best of your knowledge, and provide brief written feedback where you think it would be helpful. The answers you provide will form the basis of the feedback that we offer to CFIA on their role as it relates to defining “local.”
To learn more about the issue before filling out the survey, read here.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not fill in the participant details, your input may not be included in our final analysis.
NB: Questions proceeded by an asterisk are required to complete the survey.
Survey written and prepared with assistance from Matthew Landry, Grace Babington, Areeta Bridgemohan and the Sustain Ontario advisory council.
11 responses to “Survey on the Definition of “Local” Food”
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The new definition has little to do with ‘local’ food but is designed to assuage the trade agreements. It is not supported.
I am not impressed with the questions as to what is Local. As we live a considerable distance from Southern Ontario, I would not consider anything grown outside of a 100km radius as being local. Something grown in the Niagra region is certainly not local to ThunderBay by any standard.
give me fresh local food so I can feel good about what I feed my friends and family
Hi Dennis,
In our how do you define local section we have lots of options including county/regional definitions and 100 km or less… was there a more “local” option that we missed?
I want to support Canada
Common sense
In my opinion, local should be left to the municipalities to define local. This question about what is local becomes very fuzzy when you live in a border town – is it local for someone on the Ontario/Quebec border to include Quebec or Ontario/US border to include US produce and what about northern Ontario? I think that there cannot be one overall definition. Having said that I would be prudent for municipalities in conjunction with farmers and restaurants, to define local. I specifically leave out grocery stores and farmers’ markets because my experience has been that they will attempt to extend the area of definition in search of cheaper prices. Farmers selling at farmers’ markets are already covered but the “middle” man who buys from various sources and resells to the public at these markets needs to be left out of the mix. Because I live in Norfolk County, an area that can and does grow just about everything, produce that is shipped in from the Toronto Food Terminal or comes from any of the neighbouring counties, I consider not local. As you can see, the definition varies from municipality to municipality
Local food maps and directories in our area are free – I don’t buy them – I simply use them. Local Food Plus Signs, Ontario Produce Signs – are not helpful. I want to know the actual farm that produced the product. I have seen Local Food Plus Signs at a stall that carries a variety of produce from a variety of sources -(as well their own, for which the LFP certificate was issued). To the casual observer – it looks like it is all part of the LFP certificate.
If market stall owners, stores etc. are buying from food terminals, then the actual farm location of the produce is lumped together with others. Then one simply has to trust, or not buy. I have seen individual fruit with stickers from some other country, lying under a great big Ontario Produce sign in grocery stores.
Signs are no guarantee. Certificates have more information and are more reliable – but the actual certificate is rarely displayed.
I do not have a “My Pick” market near by, but I know of a few local farmers that participate in the “my pick” program. I plan to apply.
A vague sense of local is not good enough for me. I want to know specifically which farm produced the goods.
We have to ship our milk to a cheese artisan in another county to process as we have no cheese processor nearby. We consider ourselves local. Many of our farmers live further than 50 km from their market as our county is so long and narrow. We grow more food than our area buys.. we need Toronto to consider us as their ‘Local’ farmer for both our benefits. And please, as farmers we have so much increased paperwork and redtape that another layer is useless… stop the madness! As organic farmers we don’t need another watchdog or definer. As initiators of our buy local maps and activities we are inclusive and trusted. Why complicate things?
Brand the region (county) of origin, and also brand the province. Then the consumer can decide if Manitoulin fish is “local” enough for us. Brand place of origin of the ingredients AND location of processor. Local designation should be lost if outside buyers take it over; locally OWNED is also important. Size of company is also important: bread baked at Weston bakery in Kitchener isn’t “local” even if you live in Kitchener. (And source of the wheat must also be required on label.)
Additional designations should be developed for sustainable farming methods and fair labour practices, as was done with organic.