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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-03-18, Page 51Faun Progress, March 1.8, 2009 - Page 35 Nothing beats home cooking with locally grown food season vetetables and fruit know the food will be on from local producers. hand regardless of the Springall notes the weather. Homes department works in Townsend was first conjunction with other inspired to make the change organizations, inclining the last fall when reading a Huron County Health Unit, brochure from: the county to ensure residents enjoy a about the number of pro - diverse and nutritious menu duce and meat suppliers in with the Buy Local, Buy the region. After reading up Fresh campaign. on the Greater Toronto Connie Townsend says Area's successful buy -local the changeover was a fairly campaign, Townsend took simple one,'wluch-has made the next step in asking for a positive difference all the management's support of way. around. the changeover. Positive aspects of the The feedback has been campaign include a cooking overwhelmingly positive, staff that no longer has to _reiteratesTownsend. wait for food to defrost "It's the variety and the before preparing it and, freshness that was the draw more importantly, the cooks for us," she says. BY C R itin. REATIi Clinton News Record Staff Nothing beats home cooking. And it's with that in mind that Huron County's Homes department made a move in January, to offer up locally grown and produced goods wherever possible. Homes administrator Barb Springall credits nutri- tion -care Manager Connie Townsend with being the :.driving force behind the change from the usual route of acquiring meats and dairy from a large-scale supplier. "It was . something she was really interested in doing, says Springall. "She was ready to get rolling." And, thanks to the endorsement of county council, the Homes depart- ment was able to move for- ward with a tendering process that allows admin- istrators to choose locally based meat and dairy sup- pliers, including Tucker's Meats, of Seaforth, Fairholme Dairy of Clinton, and Horton's Dairy, of Wingham. "We were trying to get more into fresh and locally grown food," says Springall. The feedback has been phenomenal, she says, not- ing. the campaign, called Buy Local, Buy Fresh, also has • spin-off benefits, including reducing the department's carbon foot- print since goods are no longer shipped from long distances. - Springall says the Homes' residents' council has been especially appreciative of the change. "They're really happy with it," she says, noting residents recently had the chance to enjoy a steak din- ner. "It's kind of a win-win all the way around." The next, move, says Springall, is to seek out additional local suppliers for other goods, like baked goods. She notes the Homes department already made it a practice to purchase turkeys from Hayter's Turkey Products in Dashwood,. as well as in- ._ e�1�A. R+f118111� i� 11�0Y�1� *MR TOUR M 11. NAM 0! Tli oE' Before building or renovating, consider raising your house to gain additional basement space • serving the agricultural comm 1-800-667-8399 MPJ and a Wide Variety of "Made Right Here" Speciality Meats ; ... Visitour Retail Store Monday to`Friday Sam - 6pm Saturday:Sarn - 3pm Soultallisice Flooring Division of Bernie McGlynn Lumber Ltd. Buyer of Hardwood Bush Lots - 519-367-5789 Prefinished Hardwood Flooring, Trim & Stair Systems Tel: 519-367-3215 Fax 519-367-3214 E-mail: sawmill@wightman.ca 1563 Highway 9 Mildmay, ON *11 W s•+s��►�"M`iE"�w •`i•itrik-o * A.k..yam*-ir.A.Jo4..11'4,..t. ��•!'►� . Providing your. Complete Crop Care Services Crop Consulting Nutrient Management Plans Chemicals / Fertilizer Seed / Custom Application Grain Markcting..SerVices Clinton Farm Supply Centre R.R. 4 Clinton 5Y9-233-3423 or 1SOO-387O811. MEAT PRODUCTS A1•t0.044 I4t'wq*rA~ . 04'44* •#4,,0**4VRTl[ 4 3I;04ow4,i iRl •V.IRS i!0!':4*4"04, M 0* ,, J