Consumers urged to use pocketbook to address food security

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The Friends of Agriculture in Nova Scotia (FANS) recognize that people in Kings County are at the heart of global debates when it comes to food security and land use issues. They urged consumers last week to act with their pocketbooks and support local producers.

Member Pierre Cloutier of New Minas said during a recent roundtable discussion that the protection of agricultural land is about protecting ourselves from the bad times we’re going to experience. He said the issue is essentially all about farmland and the most important thing people can do is buy local. Insist that your grocer carry local produce or stop at a local farm market or roadside stand.

“Be prepared to pay a little extra, but think ahead,” he said. “They (farmers) face First World costs and Third World prices.”

He is an advocate of people returning to the use of root cellars to store certain vegetables with longer shelf life. If we all bought these vegetables from local producers when they’re abundant and cheap, the consumer would pay less and everybody would win, he says.

Our entire culture is based on cheap oil, but as oil supplies decrease and prices increase, it will be more costly to import food. Petroleum-based fertilizer costs are set to increase dramatically over the next year.

Every dollar spent here has a multiplier effect

Member Linda Best of Greenwich said there would be more money in farming eventually for our local producers. The cost of importing food will increase local sales. However, increased fertilizer and fuel costs will be challenging.

By shipping our food dollars away, we damage every aspect of our economy, especially the agricultural sector. Every dollar we spend at home on local food turns over several times in a sort of multiplier effect, generating more and more positive economic spin-offs.

She said agri-tourism is important. Best is hoping to see a “Harvest Express” bus tour bring people from the Halifax area to the Valley to buy local produce, perhaps to take home and store in root cellars. This would help urban residents to reconnect with farming.

She said it’s time to put more pressure on our politicians and the public should have input before a proposed provincial discussion paper on agricultural issues is released.

Member Tisha Pratt of Wolfville Ridge said preserving food by freezing, bottling and canning is sort of a lost art, but this could help make local produce last all winter. However, people need skills and facilities like community kitchens for this.

Member Linda O’Neill said this activity could also be connected to local food banks to help support the less fortunate.