Northern Groups Request Release of Chicken Consultation Report
Posted: June 5, 2015
Categories: GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Members
Eat Local Sudbury is requesting the release of the Northern Consultation Report and Recommendations held on February 10, 2015 with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario in relation to the allocation of new chicken quota in Ontario.
As summarized in the letter, the consultations highlighted a number of barriers to the growth of the chicken industry in Northern Ontario including: high entry cost to quota purchase and development, limitations to small flock and niche market production, and lack of adequate processing.
During the consultations participants proposed changes to the current system, stating that they would like:
- To develop a chicken industry in the North which addresses the needs of all communities and provides varied entry points for production and processing.
- To evaluate system models which will provide that all farmers, large and small, can legally produce volumes of chicken that is economically viable for their operation
- To ensure that all communities have access to an adequate supply of locally produced chicken
- To support the development of a robust, diverse and viable agriculture industry in the North
The consultation report from the Chicken Farmers of Ontario’s report has not yet been released. Eat Local Sudbury has sent a letter to Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, and Minister of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs, Jeff Leal requesting that the report be publicly released. It is hoped that this report can help lead to the development of a robust and viable chicken industry in Northern Ontario.
The full letter can be downloaded here.