Our Food Column

We have our own article in The Mirror newspaper! We have titled the column Food Matters, and it appears in The Mirror the last Thursday of every month.! Our January and February articles are below. (Click on the article title to read the article through The Mirror's website, or continue reading the article by scrolling down on this page.)

If you would like to write an article for the Food Matters column, please contact us.
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Why buying local food makes sense, by Sandra Trainor
The Mirror, May 30, 2012

Community gardens grow more than just food, by Luke Raftis
The Mirror, April 26, 2012

Making good food choices, by Denise Baker
The Mirror, March 27, 2012

Healthy food often too costly for poor families, by Jenn McCallum
The Mirror, February 23, 2012

Why Food Matters, by Erin Chapelle
The Mirror, January 25, 2012  ______________________________________________________________________

Why buying local food makes sense, by Sandra Trainor
The Mirror, May 30, 2012

MIDLAND – Though the local-food movement has claimed many successes over the last few years in our region, there are still common misunderstandings about local food and why it may cost more than food from other countries.

Farms in Ontario, and even those right here in Simcoe County, are actually competing with farmers from around the world. However, that competition is not done on a level playing field. Even though local products travel shorter distances, the costs of production are much more than just those related to transportation. The following costs highlight some of the challenges faced by our local farmers in their endeavour to put local food on our plates:

• Labour standards/costs: Ontario’s minimum wage is among the highest in the world. In the countries where some of our imported food originates, there is often very little paid to workers. In addition, our high labour standards mean we are competing with countries that don’t require the equivalent of OHIP, CPP, EI or WSIB payments.

• Government subsidies: While Canadian farmers receive some help from our government, it is not nearly the same as the United States. The U.S. currently pays around $20 billion per year to farmers in direct subsidies. This occurs despite the World Trade Organization’s order to cease this practice. As a result, artificially cheapened food is dumped into world markets, including Canada. Many local farms have been forced out of business or take big losses because of this factor alone.

• Climate: Southern Ontario has some of the best soil and climate conditions for food production in Canada. However, Canada is a northern country with a short growing season. Farms in the southern U.S. and in South America are able to produce higher yields because, in many cases, they are able to produce year-round. This gives them the advantage of accessing markets Ontario farmers can’t.

When food is cheap, someone is paying the real cost –whether it is governments (taxpayers) or farmers and farm workers.

When you support a local food system, you are buying more than fresh food. You are supporting our local economy at a very basic level. By supporting farm families and local agriculture today, you are helping to sustain our food economy for tomorrow.

You are preserving farmland, creating employment, eating healthier, maintaining watersheds and biodiversity, and reducing food miles. You are also creating a much-needed urban-rural connection. When we are not dependent on foreign countries feeding us, we are all more food secure.

More and more people want to know where their food comes from and how it was grown and raised. By building relationships with local farmers, based on understanding and trust, we can begin to know the story about the food we eat, by just asking our producers directly. This is a unique benefit that’s we can’t enjoy with food coming from offshore.

Of course, there are so many other benefits to local food, including its distinct flavour and evident nutrients, which prove that the movement is here to stay.

To learn more about where and whom you can buy local food and drink, visit www.simcoecountyfarmfresh.ca.

Sandra Trainor is the executive director of Simcoe County Farm Fresh Marketing Association. She has worked and lived in Simcoe County for more than 30 years, and has great respect for the food grown and produced in Simcoe County, and for those who make it happen.
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Community gardens grow more than just food, by Luke Raftis
The Mirror, April 26, 2012

MIDLAND – Gardening is a favourite summer activity for many Canadians. And thanks to an emerging global trend, it is no longer restricted to people who have gardens of their own.

Community gardening has existed in various forms in Canada since the late 1800s, but it has experienced a revival in recent years, becoming commonplace in most cities and towns. Huronia is no exception, with gardens springing up in Lafontaine, Penetanguishene, Midland and Orillia.

Community gardening makes use of unproductive space in urban areas to produce food. It has been a long-standing tradition in many cultures, perhaps most notably in Europe. How these gardens operate varies widely. Some rent plots to gardeners for a nominal fee, while others are gardened as a group. Community gardens can be organized by a committee, a community group, a municipality, private landowners, or even loosely organized by a group of individuals.

Canadian municipalities are well suited to community gardens. Due to relatively low-density communities, it is generally easy to find land. A large unused backyard, a vacant lot, the edge of a park, or property owned by a housing complex, church or retirement home may be used for community gardening. Community gardens don’t have to be large, and don’t require a huge investment to get started.

Although community gardening in Canada began during times of need, such as during the First and Second World Wars, support for the current community gardening movement is more multifaceted. Increasing the accessibility of fresh vegetables has been a major driver for many people. Many community gardeners share the harvest with the less fortunate by making donations to shelters and food banks.

In addition, community gardens offer a cost-effective means of beautification, especially in the case of vacant lots or unused space. The efforts of a group of dedicated community gardeners can transform an ugly and neglected urban area into a recognizable and purposeful space full of life.

The notion of food security is another big motivator for some people. The ability to produce at least some of your own food is a skill most people grow up without nowadays, and, with something so fundamental to one’s survival, many find it an important skill to learn and maintain. As local gardener Peter Ladage put it, “When I realized I couldn’t eat anything except food, I decided I should learn how to grow it.”

There is also a strong social aspect to community gardening. Many community garden organizations have developed educational programs and workshops to share skills and techniques, or to reintroduce children to gardening. In addition to the already very social and inclusive act of working collaboratively on something as basic as growing food, many gardens host a variety of social events that help connect people of all ages, cultures and income levels.

To find out more about community gardens in the area, look for the list of gardens and contact information at www.sustainablesevernsound.ca/gardens, or call 705-526-1371, ext. 112.

Luke Raftis is the sustainability co-ordinator for Sustainable Severn Sound, an organization that assists municipalities with the implementation of their sustainability plans. For more details, email luke@sustainablesevernsound.ca or visit www.sustainablesevernsound.ca. ______________________________________________________________________

Making good food choices, by Denise Baker
The Mirror, March 27, 2012

MIDLAND – We all need food to sustain us. That is why we are so lucky to be living where we are. Simcoe County is blessed with an abundance of good farmland. Local farmers are raising beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and even bison and elk. Local growers are producing fresh vegetables from April to November, and some even do so during the winter months.

Farmers are growing food for local consumption in ever-growing numbers. But is this enough? Do we have a sustainable food system? Can we provide enough food so that all residents can maintain a healthy diet, and yet provide fair wages to our farmers?

We need to be better educated about where our food actually comes from, how nutritious it is, and how we can access it. And who better to educate about food than our children? Through them, we also reach out to parents and entire communities. Schools are already doing a lot, but more can always be done.

Éco-Huronie has been running workshops in schools concerning good food choices that will not only improve our health, but also the health of the planet. Here is a simple way to remember the key elements in making good food choices: 3N-J. The three Ns stand for naked, nutritious and not far. The J stands for just.

Naked: Is your food over-packaged, or does it come “naked?” Can the packaging be reused or recycled? Choose containers that do not have the No. 6, as these are not recyclable in our area. Naked food is always best. It is usually found in the fruit and vegetable section.

Nutritious: The less processed the food, the better. If fresh is not available, choose frozen food or foods that have been conserved at home (think of grandma’s cellar containing lots of canned tomatoes).

Try to stay away from too many additives. Leave behind the high-sugar, high-sodium items. If a food item is listed as certified organic, you can also rest assured that it has been grown following strict guidelines and will not harm your environment.

Not far: It is better for your health, the environment and the local economy when you buy from a local producer. Better yet, get to know your local farmer. Buying local meats or veggies will guarantee their freshness and high nutritional value.

Check to see if foods are produced in Ontario, Canada or California. Children can learn their geography by talking about food choices, too.

Just: Some foods are not available locally and, in those cases, we can at least purchase foods that are equitable. Is there a Fair Trade logo or a Rainforest Alliance logo on the product? Choose products that support workers by paying them fair wages and that use sustainable farming methods to maintain the health of the land and the workers.

This information was translated and summarized from a French program developed by Equiterre: A la soupe. Equiterre is based in Quebec and does a lot of research and outreach on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.equiterre.org.

Denise Baker is the director of Éco-Huronie, an ecological centre that runs a two-acre certified-organic garden in Lafontaine. For more details, call 705-533-0003, email info@ecohuronie.com or visit www.ecohuronie.com.
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Healthy food often too costly for poor families, by Jenn McCallum
The Mirror, February 23, 2012

MIDLAND – When we consider February, many of us think of ice and snow, or Valentine’s Day. Few of us take note of Food Freedom Day, which happened Feb. 12 this year.

Food Freedom Day is the date on which the average Canadian citizen has earned enough income to pay his or her grocery bill for the entire year.

What is particularly remarkable about Food Freedom Day is how soon into the year it occurs. On Feb. 12, we were only 43 days into 2012 – which, based on a calculation using the 365 days in a year, means we only spend about 11 per cent of our income on food. Indeed, Canada has some of the lowest food costs in the world.

It would seem, therefore, that Canada is a food-secure country, meaning citizens can easily access and afford healthy food.

However, there are two stark realities that emerge when we examine the issue of food security more closely. Firstly, not all Canadians earn enough to afford a healthy diet.

“Lack of income is the main barrier to eating healthfully,” said Christine Johnston, a local public health nurse.

In the Simcoe-Muskoka region, a family of four receiving social assistance may spend up to 37 per cent of their income on food alone. Sadly, healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables are more expensive than unhealthy foods like soft drinks and chips.

“It can be very difficult for families on social assistance to eat healthfully,” said Johnston.

A second issue for food security in Canada is that farmers are not necessarily earning enough income from farming to support themselves. This is not surprising, considering that only 27 per cent of what we pay for food in the grocery store actually goes back to the farmer. As a result, many Canadian farmers have to work off the farm to support their families.

On the bright side, there are initiatives within our community that are working to improve our local food security.

“Midland is a remarkably caring community,” noted Mayor Gord McKay. “We have agencies such as Out of the Cold, the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul and the Good Food Box to help support those in need.”
A great way to ensure local farmers earn fair wages is to pay them directly for their food at a farmers’ market. Fortunately, both Midland and Penetanguishene have vibrant farmers’ markets with fresh farm products readily available in the summer months.

Although Food Freedom Day has come and gone, food security is an important issue year-round. Remain conscientious of those in need as you shop for groceries, think of the farmers who produced your food, and buy directly from the farmers at our local farmers’ markets. It is these slow, steady steps that will make us more food secure.

Jenn McCallum is the marketing and communications co-ordinator for Hundred Mile Huronia, a yearlong project promoting local food in this area.
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Why Food Matters, by Erin Chapelle
The Mirror, January 25, 2012 

“During the Second World War, (there was) a government ministry set up to tackle the food shortages at the time. The work this ‘Ministry of Food’ did made it possible for Brits to feed themselves well with little food to go around. It also educated the public about food and proper nutrition so they’d be healthy and fighting fit…. The governments of the day didn’t just watch and give lip service; they did something radical.”
– Jamie Oliver, from “Jamie’s Food Revolution”

NORTH SIMCOE – Food security refers to the success of a community in providing enough edible sustenance for its residents. I firmly believe we are steps away from a creative solution that will foster food security within our region: a solution that, in my opinion, begins with a sustainable local food system.

The hungry are ready. In fact, they have been waiting on us. Some of the area’s farmers are ready, working on interesting partnerships with local non-governmental agencies.

Even government is getting ready, as exemplified by Simcoe County’s goal to have a regional food and agricultural charter completed by December of this year. The document will help guide governments, non-profit organizations and cultural organizations in their daily work and in their decision-making around food.

On Dec. 8, 2011, the Karma Marketplace in Penetanguishene hosted its annual Food Security Forum, a half-day gathering that has allowed for multi-sector conversation on the reality of food security in Huronia for the last two years.

As participants pondered a positive method by which to share the vast experience, action and ability represented by those present, as well as a means by which to expose the fundamental problems of food-insecure communities, the group set two goals. The first was that each of us would try to attend Simcoe County’s Food Charter Visioning Day, to be held at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus on Feb. 21 (for more information, visit www.fpa.simcoe.ca).

The second explored the idea of a regular column that would openly discuss the missions, events and struggles involved in our community’s journey to a more food-secure social network.

Every month, this column will allow the many active voices that work each day toward solving food insecurity to come to the proverbial table and present their opinions. The Food Security Forum has hosted teachers, politicians, food-bank workers, fixed-income citizens, doctors, farmers, students, municipal staff and many more – all members of a rumbling, behind-the-scenes, fresh-faced movement for change.

This space is their opportunity to represent both the problems and solutions that we face in eliminating hunger. These voices will be unique and radical, as solution is not always uniform and polite. And while what is being presented may not be immediate or perfect, how else but through communication, community and compassion will we find a cure for what is ailing so many?

So, why does food matter? I believe the answer is a simple one. At the end of the day, at the base of our humanity, we are left with few shared needs, traits and beliefs. Enter food.

We all need it to survive. Like air and water, it is a basic need that will probably never be computerized or wirelessly sent to us. Regardless of our human advancements, food matters because it is one of our last racial links: a delicious, unanimous, required ingredient to our very survival.

The fact that we all can’t access it equally also matters. Henceforth come ideas to change that.

Erin Chapelle is a Penetanguishene councillor, business owner and volunteer organizer involved in growing gardens, community and change. To find out about submitting an article to this column, or for more information, email karmateikei@live.ca.