The Rural Voice, 1998-03, Page 39says.
Certainly there has been an
enthusiastic response by some
producers. Hazlitt says she originally
expected to conduct four or five
workshops but ended up doing nine,
from Kemptville in the east to St.
Joseph's Island near Sault Ste. Marie.
With all the travel involved, she's
been busy most of the winter. A few
workshop participants have been new
producers.
"Some people are very leery about
it and some are curious and come out
to the workshops. They discover it is
a tool they can use to their advantage.
Some said they were against it to
begin with but they can see the
advantages after taking the
workshop."
Still, she says, the 130 producers
involved are a long way from
the more than 2,000 producers
across Ontario, most of whom are not
even members of the producers'
association. A summer tour of the
province will let more producers
know about the program and more
workshops are likely in the fall.
While the association stresses the
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program is voluntary, some
producers are worried it's the thin
edge of the wedge that will lead to
compulsion down the line. The
workshops were compared to the
early pesticide safety certification
course by the producer we spoke to.
There too, the program began with
little pressure but became compul-
sory if you wanted to use sprays.
"Sure we could qualify for the
Seal of Quality," the producer said,
"but I'm worried down the road
they're going to change it. Another
aPhone 519-369-5780 Fax: 519-369-3129
+ '
+
+ `
4
year or two they may go to stiffer
rules."
The producer also objects to
paying for colleagues to inspect the
operation. "I don't think we really
need it," says the producer, though he
approved of OMAFRA's inspectors
before government cutbacks ended
that service.
In the long run, as usual,
consumers will decide the fate of the
program, Hazlitt says. "Once they
start asking for the Seal of Quality
producers will want to have it."0
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MARCH 1998 35