Is our local food supply important? You bet!

BY JENNIFER HOEGG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com



“A community without farms is like a house without a kitchen.”

- Jen Scott

What we eat and where it comes from was the topic at the Mt. Denson Search and Rescue hall Sunday afternoon.

Two dozen Hants County residents gathered to discuss the question, “Is Sustainability of Our Local Food Supply Important to You?” For all present, the answer was a resounding, “Yes!”

The panel discussion, moderated by Anne Bishop, owner of a Mt. Denson hobby farm operation, featured Jen Scott, founder of Heliotrust and co-owner of Red Fox Farm, and Traci Curry, local agriculture consultant and co-owner of the Falmouth Market. An engaged audience of small farmers, consumers and other interested folk joined in.

Troubling trends

Several trends threatening local food production were on the panelists’ minds.

“Canadians eat 13kg of bananas a year and only 1kg of blueberries a year.” All of the bananas are shipped in and millions of pounds of blueberries are shipped out, Curry said. Scott reported that Canadian imports of fruit have grown from 67 to 102 per cent (including wastage) in 2007. Imports have a heavy environmental impact and rising oil prices make them increasingly expensive.

Imported food may not be as safe, Curry noted, because Canada has the tightest regulations on pesticide applications. “Less pesticide is used in Canada than in the state of California,” she said. Fewer insecticides and fungicides are used in Nova Scotia than in many other jurisdictions.

Increasing reliance on global markets has hurt some local industries. For example, Nova Scotia’s pork industry can’t compete in the current world market. Not only is it difficult to find local pork in the grocery store, Curry said, if the industry collapses there won’t be enough locally raised pork available to meet Nova Scotian demand.

A second example is Scotian Gold’s loss of its main pear buyer, who is now importing pears from China. This will affect many local pear suppliers.

Increased distance between farmers and consumer means consumers lose a voice in what and how food is grown and Canadian farmers make only $0.072 for every food dollar spent at the grocery store.

Hope for Hants County

Despite fear and anger concerning changes in Canada’s food supply, there was a positive theme to the afternoon and a focus on local solutions. Panelists expressed optimism for sustaining and building local food availability.

The Valley region enjoys an abundance of varied local foods. According to research, Scott said, the area is well set up for long-term food sustainability.

She has had positive response to her efforts through Heliotrust to finance conserving farmland and preserving farming knowledge. Avondale farmer Raymond Parker echoed that hopeful outlook. “In Hants County, we’re probably better off than other parts of Nova Scotia because we haven’t lost our farm infrastructure”

Awareness and then action

Curry thinks that increasing awareness among baby boomers will lead to pressure and change. Also, as farm market owner, Curry sees a growing demand for local food. “There’s a lot of excitement; there are opportunities for consumers and producers.”

Increased urban interest in local food also bodes well for places like Hants County, Scott said. “There’s good energy in the city to support rural farmers” and those rural/urban connections need to be fostered. Programs such as the Nova Scotia Women’s Institutes Select Nova Scotia campaign, www.selectnovascotia.ca, are also positive moves, the panelists pointed out.

Both panelists urged citizens to make informed buying choices and to get involved in municipal planning. Scott said communities “need to be able to put forward their own vision for their land.”

How to help sustain a local food supply:

Request accurate labeling of produce so you know where it comes from.

Shop at farm markets for local produce. Farm markets pay producers more money and more quickly than grocery stores.

Shop at your local Co-op store. Co-op stocks a larger proportion of local foods than competitors.

Buy directly from the farmers, either at the farm gate or farmers’ markets.

Buy less processed food when possible. More money goes to the farmers.

Attend planning meetings – West Hants has a planning review meeting Feb. 21.

Learn to eat local food in season.

Preserve, freeze or can local vegetables and fruits.