HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-03-16, Page 24Dan Wiens
A new trend is
direct to the
consumer farm
marketing
by Fran McQuail
Community Shared Agriculture
(CSA) is the newest trend in direct
to the consumer farm marketing.
The concept is simple; consumers
purchase in advance a 'share' in the
summer's harvest or organically
grown vegetables. The food is
either picked up on the farm by the
consumers (sharers) or delivered on
a weekly basis to community depots
by the farmer. Sharers are en-
couraged to visit the farm and help
out with some of the work. This
arrangement has many educational,
social, economic and environmental
benefits.
Dan Wiens, of St. Adolphe,
Manitoba, was one of the workshop
speakers at the 13th Annual Or-
ganic Agriculture Conference held
in Guelph. He told of his ex-
perience in starting a CSA project,
on his farm just south of Winnipeg.
Together with his wife and four
children, Wiens grows about 30
varieties of vegetables organically
on his farm. Over a three month
harvest period, he delivers these
fresh vegetables to 160 farpilies
weekly in Winnipeg.
A share is planned to be enough
vegetables and salad makings for a
family of four. There are also some
onions, squash and potatoes at the
end of the season for each family to
store for winter use.
CSAs are an increasingly popular
concept in Canada. In 1992, there
were five or six. By 1993 that
number had grown to 30.
Wiens believes the reason that the
CSA idea has caught on so quickly
is the idea that consumers like the
idea of supporting a family farm
and the direct connection to their
food supply. The fresh organically
grown vegetables are an added plus
to the rewarding relationship,
In Huron County, there is a CSA
south of Goderich at the farm of
Bob and Bev Budd. The Huron
Community Garden was one of the
first in Canada beginning operation
in 1990.
In the Lucknow arca, Fran and
Tony McQuail are planning on
beginning one in 1995.
People interested in more infor-
mation can contact either farmer or
the Ecological Farmer's Association
CSA Resource Centre at the Mait-
land Valley Conservation Authority
in Gorrie.
Perth couple honored
for ambassadorship
by Andy Bader
A special award to longtime
contributors to the Perth County
Federation of Agriculture was pres-
ented to Willy and Clara Keller on
Jan. 28.
The couple received the first-time
award to mark the 50th anniversary
of the Perth federation, President
John Drummond said.
Calling them "proud Canadian
farmers and mentors to us all,"
Drummond and Elmer Buchanan,
Ontario Minister of Agriculture,
presented a plaque during the
federation's annual meeting held at
the Mitchell & District Community
Centre.
"It marks their outstanding
contribution....and ambassadorship"
to the local federation, Drummond
said.
"If . synchronized community
service were an Olympic sport,
they'd win a gold medal for sure,"
he said.
The Kellers, who operate a
successful and innovative swine
operation in Fullarton Township
with their family, have been active
members of the Perth FOA for
many years.
Willy, 69, was born in Romania
came to Canada in 1951, joined by
his future wife, a native of
Switzerland, a short time later. One
year later, they moved to the
Mitchell area with a six-month
sojourn in Califomia mixed in. In
1953, they purchased the farm they
now reside on at Brandy Point, just
south of Mitchell on Highway 23.
Clara, currently a Fullarton
Township councillor, was also
secretary of the FOA from 1976-
1983.
The couple have five children.
Willy is known across the county
as a "prolific membership
recruitment" person as well as a
director, Drummond said.
A portrait will also be
commissioned by the FOA, a copy
of which will be hung at the local
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture &
Food (OMAF) office in Stratford.
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Farm Progress '94 -Page 7
Clara and Willy Keller, of RR 1 Mitchell, were recently honored
by the Perth County Federation of Agriculture for their longtime
dedication and commitment to the federation. Ontario Minister
of Agriculture Elmer Buchanan (middle) made the presentation
at the federation's 50th annual meeting held In Mitchell. (Andy
Bader photo)
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