[getsmart-l] Fw: [Discover Local Food] Capturing Local Food Opportunities

[John O'Gorman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Discover Local Food 
To: Discover Local Food 
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 6:59 AM
Subject: [Discover Local Food] Capturing Local Food Opportunities


Rural and Urban to Explore Emerging Opportunities and Current Barriers in Ontario's Local Food Movement

>From a Release from the Ontario Rural Council

October 17, 2007

 

(Guelph) - Farmers, food retailers, direct marketers and associated stakeholders will come together in early December for a two-location series aimed at examining the issues, opportunities and potential next steps related to supplying Ontario-grown produce and products to retail outlets.

 

"From the Earth's Floor to The Retail Store: Capturing Local Food Opportunities" will take place in Port Perry on December 4, 2007 and again two days later in Milton on December 6, 2007. It is being presented by The Ontario Rural Council (TORC) in conjunction with a partnership of government and non-profit organizations interested in helping to bolster the current surge towards 'buying local'.

 

"The debate in the United Kingdom about food miles - the distance our food travels to get to the dinner table - has really spilled over into North America, and now raises questions about the environmental merits of long-distance food," notes Elbert van Donkersgoed, Executive Director of the Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee (GTAAAC) and a member of the forum planning committee. "The word "locavore" is now used to promote the practice of eating a diet consisting of food harvested close to home. One-hundred-mile-diets are being tried everywhere, and entrepreneurs are launching 100-mile food shops."

 

Ontario farmers, processors and retailers are in a positive position to capitalize on this local food momentum, yet there still exists no real system in place to 'feed it', says TORC Executive Director Harold Flaming. "TORC, as a facilitator of emerging rural and rural/urban issues, has a role to play in encouraging dialogue amongst the farmer, the processor and the retailer in the interests of helping to 'build the middle' and ensuring the end-user - the consumer - has greater opportunities to purchase local products."

 

Under the current system, many farmers wishing to capitalize on the burgeoning local food network find it challenging to access the appropriate channels to distribute their food to the retail sector. Further complicating the process is the bevy of mandatory regulations which often prevents farmers from direct-selling on their farms. For their part, retailers - many of whom are keen to work with the agricultural community - are often faced with their own set of challenges when trying to engage this sector, despite pleas from consumers to stock local produce / products.

 

Highlights of the TORC Local Food Forum two-location series will include:

. latest updates on retail sector trends and current research

. firsthand stories from those finding success in 'reaching retail'

. facilitated roundtable discussion around innovative approaches to help 'rebuild the middle' towards creating an effective distribution network

. identification of potential next steps to assist in overcoming barriers

 

"These TORC Forum events will engage participants in the innovations that are possible on our farms and in the food chain - all the way to the consumers' table," adds Elbert van Donkersgoed. "Buying locally-grown food has always made sense: It's about great food, it helps farmers and it supports your local community."

 

To Register Online:  www.torc.on.ca

Registration Fee: $45 Youth Rate: $25

 

- 30 -

 

For more information: 

Michele Walter, TORC Communications, mwalter at torc.on.ca  519.826.4128 x322 

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Discover Local Food is for those interested in the growing number of celebrations, projects and initiatives in support of local food in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. The list circulates invitations, announcements, news releases and project summaries that relate to local food in the GTA and throughout Ontario. The list is dependent on readers for suggesting items. Send yours now. Discover Local Food is a project of the Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee: www.gtalocalfood.ca. GTA AAC staff moderate this list.

 

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food." George Bernard Shaw

 

 

 
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