WI disappointed

To the Editor:

The agricultural community of Nova Scotia has been hit another damaging blow with the announcement by Maple Leaf Foods that their fresh poultry plant in Canard will be closed by the end of April, 2007.

An estimated 380 local jobs will be lost, as well as a major local market for Nova Scotia poultry producers.

The membership of the Women’s Institute of Nova Scotia is disappointed with this news on the eve of the announcement of the results of their 2006 WI Buy Local Survey.

The survey was conducted with more than 2,400 consumers across the province to identify their food-buying habits.

The survey showed a strong preference for more local food products on store shelves. The closure of this plant will ultimately mean less local poultry on Nova Scotia tables.

Women’s Institutes of Nova Scotia is a strong supporter of the agricultural industry and felt that there was a lack of statistical information to producers and the industry regarding consumers’ preference for local food products.

In 2006, we decided to conduct a survey that looked at how consumers define ‘local’ food, rating the retail resources of local food and looking at the factors that influence the food we buy.

The report will be released to the public during Women’s Institute Week, Feb. 18-24.

Women’s Institutes encourages consumers to continue to support our agricultural community by requesting retailers to offer more local food products in their stores.

Ellen M. Simpson

President

Women’s Institutes of Nova Scotia