Lakeshore Advance, 2013-07-24, Page 2Changing deflnitlon of "local" could be good for Ontarlo farmers
Kathryn Forrest
QMI Agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has
implemented an interim policy to change the
definition of 'local; a change that some urea
fanners say could be good news for Ontario
food producers.
In May, the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CF1A) announced the policy change
broadened the definition of 'local' to recog-
nize any food produced in the same province
or territory as it is sold, as well as food sold
across provincial borders within 50 kni of its
origin.
Previous to this change, only food pro-
duced within 50 km, or within the same or
adjacent municipality of where It was sold
could be considered local.
The new definition of the word is part of
the CFIA's initiative to modernize its food
labelling policy. The definition will remain in
place while the agency completes a review of
current reguleitions, a process expected to
take one or twd years.
CTIA Media belations representative Elena
Koutsavakis told the Advance in an email the
50 km rule "was considered by some as too
restrictive considering that many consumers
now live in cities that are quite a distance
from farm land. Their view of what they con-
sider 'local' food is now broader."
"The CFIA wants to strike the right balance
for industry and consumers;" she wrote. "As a
result, the CFIA has chosen to adopt an
interim policy that provides sufficient
flexibility to industry while enabling con-
sumers to make an informed choice."
At the Grand Bend Farmers' Market, most
vendors come from within 100 km and the
farthest come from about 120 km away,
according to market director and vendor
Chris Williamson.
The change won't have much impact on
the market because of its 100 kin nature, but
as a farmer herself, Williamson argues the
broadened 'local' label inay give Ontario
fanners an edge over imported produce.
"If people know they're buying Ontario
products and produce, they're supporting
local and they're supporting Ontario, which
is really important, she said. "If you don't
buy local and you don't support local farm-
ers, you won't have local."
When the Lakeshore Advance asked Diane
Rood, a shopper at the farmers' market last
week, what she thought of the change, she
had no qualms.
"1 farm, and we have local produce but we
ship all over Ontario, so ('m okay with that,"
she said.
"We like to support Ontario farmers,"
added fellow shopper Ilelen Jamrozlnski.
Ray Sheldon of Sheldon Berries conies to
the farmers' market from Lakeside and while
he thinks the definition of local applying to
any produce in the province Is "too broad,"
he also said the competition from low-priced
imported produce is a bigger concern, and
this definition of local may help farmers like
hhn by encouraging people to buy Ontario -
grown products over foreign ones.
"When you look in this market everyone
here - whether they're selling pastries,
bread, produce, beef, they've all worked
hard to get their product here and it's hard to
compete with $0.25 [foreign] wages," he
said.
"At least it's coming out of Ontario," he
said of the new definition.
Some, like Jessica Loonier, who was selling
produce at the market on behalf of I)olway
Organic Garden, which travels to the market
from London's I lyde Park area, said the new
definition is "pretty extreme."
"A lot of the point of local is coming from
smaller farms and farmer communication
and connection to the customer, but If it is
coming from far away it doesn't seem like
the same thing," she saki.
Matt Eagleson of Eagleson Farms also
pointed out the definition won't have much
impact on the Grand Bend Farmers' Market
because most vendors come from within an
approximate 100 kin radius, but saki if a ven-
dor from farther away did come in and set
up it could have an impact on the
consumer.
"The locals who shop here are going to
know who's local and who's not, but if some-
body else came in and said they were local,
the tourists won't know the difference," he
said.
The CTIA has saki it recognizes the policy's
broad interpretation, and invites the public
to participate in an online consultation ques-
tionaire available on the CFIA's website until
Aug. 30.
Kathryn Forrest OMI Agency
Ray Sheldon Is the owner of Sheldon Berries
and comes to the Grand Bend Farmers'
Market from Lakeside, 15 minutes outside of
St. Mary's. He said It Is hard to compete with
grocery store produce Imported to Canada
from foreign countries, and hopes the new
definition of local will encourage consumers to
support Ontario farmers.
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