Don’t know what you’ve got 'til it's gone

Not too long ago, my family and I returned to the Valley after spending seven years in north-western Canada. While away, one of the things we missed the most was fresh, locally-grown produce and meat. However, I have to say that I’m very disappointed, and here’s why.

The Annapolis Valley is a paradox of sorts: it offers an ideal climate for us to sustain ourselves and export much of what is grown to the rest of the province and beyond, yet many Valley farmers are fighting a losing battle. In many cases, product is left to rot in the field or livestock is sold for less than the cost of production. I have heard this blamed on the global economy -- small family farms can’t compete with factory farms in California, China, or elsewhere because their labour, taxes, and other costs are a fraction of what it is here. Or maybe you could say that NAFTA is to blame, that free trade makes it impossible to survive.

But I think all we have to do is look in the mirror to see the biggest problem. It’s disheartening to see how many people are willing to pay as much or more for Washington apples or AAA Alberta beef at one of the “Big 2” grocery stores or their affiliates simply because it’s convenient. These stores do very little to support local farmers (just try to buy in-season local strawberries at one of these locations!). The Co-op does buy product locally, but in the past several years has had to close its Lawrencetown and Middleton locations due to lack of community support.

Another problem is that many people who have chosen to make the Valley their home don’t know where to buy local products. These are some of the biggest supporters of buying locally, because they appreciate the availability of fresh food. For those people, the Internet is a great resource to find producers and retailers of local food. Check out the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture’s website www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf) , and follow the links to “Food for Thought: A Buyer’s Guide to Nova Scotia Food Products;” or for organic food, try www.acornorganic.org; or check out your local farmer’s market at www.nsfarmersmarkets.ca.

You can’t wait for the government to help, take matters into your own hands. First of all, make the big retailers change their practices. If they won’t support our local economy, don’t support them! I was a grocery manager for several years, and I can tell you that if enough people “vote with their wallets,” the Big 2 will notice. Make your fresh purchases directly from the farmer, from a farmers’ market, or at least from one of the many “farm markets” throughout the Valley. Second, demand to know where your food comes from, regardless of where you buy it. You owe it to yourself and your family. Don’t take our Valley for granted, because you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.

Jonathan Gee

Lawrencetown