[getsmart-l] [Discover Local Food] Toronto Turns its Attention to Its Food System

[John O'Gorman]

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From: Discover Local Food 
To: Discover Local Food 
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:58 AM
Subject: [Discover Local Food] Toronto Turns its Attention to Its Food System


Toronto Turns its Attention to Its Food System

 

Comment Terroir*

Elbert van Donkersgoed. 

March 26, 2008

 

Some folks are serious about changing the market for food in the Greater Toronto Area.

 

City of Toronto staff came to a recent meeting of the Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee to describe a new city-led initiative, an initiative that has the potential to shift significantly the demand for food in the GTA. Staff at Toronto Public health is developing a Toronto Food Strategy.

 

The initiative is already well underway. The first step has been the writing of a discussion paper, "The State of Toronto's Food." Now, Toronto Public Health is undertaking discussions with various stakeholders asking them what they would like to see a Toronto Food Strategy accomplish.

 

Meanwhile they already have a general vision of what this strategy will be and what they want to accomplish. They want an action plan that will stimulate a sea change in Toronto's food system. Actions that will:

·     improve health,

·     promote economic development,

·     promote social justice,

·     protect the environment and

·     reflect and celebrate Toronto's diversity.

 

Toronto's Medical Officer of Health is leading this initiative because he believes a food strategy will enable Torontonians to redesign their food system. Toronto experiences alarming rates of obesity and diabetes, a food system that is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and too many families who are unable to put enough nutritious food on the table. He is also concerned about the excessive marketing of unhealthy foods to children, the contribution of the food system to climate change and the viability of farmers on the agricultural lands surrounding Toronto.

 

That is a tall order and it is significant that this strategy is neither about food safety nor about food quality. Safety and wholesomeness are assumed. But, the food system contributes much more to our lives than taking care of hunger.  This initiative sees the food system as a gateway for health promotion, jobs, guaranteed access to nutrition, environmental stewardship and multicultural festivals.

 

The discussion paper provides a general overview of many of the food activities in the city ― everything from "grow it" to "throw it." But the discussion with the GTA Agriculture Action Committee suggested that more information will be needed. There was concern in the meeting that the information on production, processing and retailing was too general to lead to effective actions. Information about the security of Toronto's food supply was requested. Does Toronto know what its food shed looks like or how vulnerable it is to risks related to distance? There have been estimates that a mere three-day supply of food exists in the city.

 

The Toronto delegation also learned that there are significant actions related to the food system happening in the regions around Toronto that are also likely to impact the shape of the city's food system,. In Durham Region, for example, discussions on a Food Charter are well on the way.

 

At this stage Toronto is asking questions about its Food Strategy. What would citizens like to see a Toronto Food Strategy accomplish? Where do stakeholders see the greatest opportunity to make progress?

 

There is one answer Toronto will hear again and again ― make it a strategy based on local food. Locally grown, locally raised and locally processed food will buoy up every part of the vision that Toronto Public Health has for this strategy.

·    It will be fresher food and fresher food will hold more of its health qualities.

·    It will support the local economy, especially, Ontario's farmers and their suppliers.

·    It will create opportunities for families without enough nutritious food in their fridges and pantries to get involved in urban and near-urban agriculture.

·    It will be better for the environment as food miles are reduced and more emphasis is put on renewable resources.

·    It will become more culturally diverse as the demographics for Toronto encourages the production of multicultural foods in the GTA and beyond.

·    It will rebuild connections between farmers and consumers, between city and countryside.

 

Torontonians have much to gain by becoming proactive about their food system.

 

Copies of the report are available from Brian Cook, Research Consultant, Healthy Living, Disease Prevention, Toronto Public Health, 277 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W2, Tel: 416-338-7864, Fax: 416-392-0635, Email: bcook at toronto.ca

__________

*Comment Terroir focuses on near-urban agriculture and locally grown food and is written by Elbert van Donkersgoed.  He is the Executive Director of the Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee. To be added to the electronic distribution list of Comment Terroir, subscribe to the Discover Local Food List by visiting the website: www.gtalocalfood.ca.

 
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