Locavore News by Elbert van Donkersgoed

Author: Lauren Baker

Posted: June 10, 2009

Categories: News from Sustain Ontario

Locavore News

Plumbline
Perspectives on good food and farming
June 10, 2009

Ontario’s backing of “Ontario Natural” brand makes news in Manitoba
The latest round of funding through Ontario’s Market Investment Fund program includes $100,000 toward development of a “natural” food co-op’s private-label brand. The Ontario Natural Food Co-op (ONFC) will get $100,000 to “develop a process to identify, evaluate, prioritize and plan for its ‘Ontario Natural’ line of food products and categories on behalf of the Ontario Natural Food Co-op’s customers and suppliers.” Manitoba Co-operator story. Ontario government news release.

Food future mapped out
The Food Ethics Council (UK) has launched a new toolkit designed to help organisations plan for the uncertain future of the UK’s food system. The Council has created four future scenarios – sets of different but equally plausible stories about the future of UK food in 2022.

15 ways to eat more local food
Fifteen tips from Kitchen Gardeners International  members, and founder Roger Doiron, winner of one of The Daily Green’s 2009 Heart of Green Awards.

Wisconsin fourth-graders boycott school lunch
A group of fourth-grade students at Nuestro Mundo Elementary School in Madison, WI planned to protest the unhealthy food served in their cafeteria by staying behind in class during recess and enjoying a home-cooked meal. Their “Real Food Picnic” was cancelled when the school district’s assistant superintendent alerted parents and school administrators and asked them to discourage the event, citing concerns about food allergies, lack of supervision and the presence of news media. The rest of the story here.

Hellmann’s helps the locavore movement
The latest ingredient to the locavore movement is Hellmann’s mayonnaise. The Unilever brand is encouraging consumers to take action in the form of pledges on their microsite, EatRealEatLocal.ca or social media posts (blogs, Twitter, Facebook) with the tag “#realfood.”
Hellmann’s will donate 25 cents to non-profit organization, Evergreen, for every action taken. Hellmann’s launched the campaign following a survey commissioned by the brand about Canadians’ eating habits that showed almost 9 out of 10 Canadians prefer to eat locally sourced foods. Media in Canada story here.

The recession hits fine dining and local food
Jamie Kennedy Kitchens is in financial trouble. Kennedy blames too fast expansion, fine dining does not fit well with the recession and embracing the local food movement. Local food “costs are inherently higher,” he says. Kennedy will stay committed to higher-cost, local food with what is left of his restaurant empire. Globe and Mail story here.

Michael Pollan on eating in a cold climate and a recession
‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants,’ is Pollan’s succinct message. What does this mean in Canada? In the “Omnivore’s guide to eating well,” Pollan answers questions from some Canadians in today’s Globe and Mail.

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