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Local food: it seemed like a motherhood issue, but...
12 August 2010
In his book, The Local Food Revolution, Canadian author Gordon Hume wrote, "Food is a key part of community's reputation, image, the buzz created, and the local flavours and textures of the region... Food will continue to feed and shape our creative communities. It is also a crucial component that ties together the creative economy and innovative local community-building."
So when a staff report came up on Monday recommending a local food procurement policy for municipal events and functions, as well as recommending a coordinated effort between regional municipalities, farm produce suppliers, and the health unit to provide and encourage access to local foods, I thought it was a motherhood issue we would all stand behind.
After all, who, I wondered, would not stand up for and support local food producers, or support using local food in municipal events?
Councillor Edwards and Deputy Mayor Cooper, it seems. In a recorded vote, they both voted against the policy and the report's recommendations, and in part for somewhat similar reasons. More on that, below.
The recommendation on the agenda was that,
The staff report went on to say:
So what, I ask you, is wrong with this idea? It's not another tax. It's not terribly restrictive - the percentage of local (Ontario-grown) food (5-10%) requested from suppliers is mostly symbolic and won't upset anyone's budget or economy. But if it becomes a trend in municipalities across the province, it could have a positive effect on Ontario farmers.
Preference to local food, reviewed annually, a newsletter, connecting citizens to locally-produced food. Again I fail to see any problem with this concept. And it fits with our approved goals for a sustainable community.
Here's a policy that won't cost us any significant amount of money, will encourage the local economy, will open doors for local food producers, and to create a "buzz" in local restaurants and grocery stores.
And it could help our tourism promotion. I recommended we create a standard window sign advertising "local produce used/sold here" for participants. I think with this sort of initiative, we can promote a hybrid blend of culinary and cultural interests as a marketing point for our community, as Stratford has done.
For me, the telling line in the report was this:
Not just feels heard, I would argue, but becomes involved in an active, participatory way that helps us promote local food as the better and more sustainable alternative to foods imported from foreign sources.
Yes, I do understand that, living in an area with a short growing season, we are dependent on imported foods for a good part of the year. And like the rest of you, I like my imported strawberries and oranges in the winter when the only local produce consists of root vegetables stored in a cold cellar (for those of you who remember cold cellars...). But in part the importance of this policy lies in its educational component that gets consumers and restaurants to look for local produce, first, when making buying decisions.
An awareness of the importance of local food is crucial when council is making decisions on such things as residential developments that consume agricultural lands and thus diminish our capacity to produce foods locally. Growth is inevitable, but it's also irreversible. Once we allow agricultural land to be turned into subdivisions, they never go back.
Another selling point for me was this comment:
We're committing to an educational program that includes community involvement. What could be wrong with that?
Two members of council manged to find something they didn't agree with. I really can't fathom why they resisted an initiative that, from my perspective, benefits our region and local producers, as well as dovetails with our sustainability goals.
Councillor Edwards argued at the table he didn't want to see it as a "policy", merely something approved in nebulous "principle." "In principle" is usually a way to straddle the fence so you look like you're agreeing to something, but don't actually commit to it and when push comes to shove, you can safely ignore it because it's not a "policy". That's not a stand, it's an escape route.
Why Deputy Mayor Cooper voted against it, was a mystery to me. She, more than any of us at the table, understands the business of produce and food. In an email to me this week, Deputy Mayor Cooper asked, "Why another policy?" She explained she too "felt it could be (made in) a statement made through procurement." She wrote she had brought a similar discussion to council more than a year ago, but said there was no interest to pursue it.
While not supporting it as a town policy, Cooper wrote, "I am happy that the effort is being made. Not only are we supporting farmers but it tastes so much better less travelled."
As I see it, changing our procurement rules is also a policy change, but a much more muted one. It's barely visible to most people and carries none of the weight that this cooperative and more-publicized effort has. With this policy we make a public statement and we ingrain the concepts into the wider functions of the municipality.
I have read Hume's book, and I spoke with Gord Hume at the FCM conference in May. I think his ideas are not only cutting-edge in the field of sustainability, but underline a front-line trend for municipalities concerned about sustainability, and the local economy. From what I've read, those are things we should all be concerned about, and supportive of as a council (and I encouraged all of council to read his book).
In the Camrose Canadian, Brian McGaffigan wrote about a speech by Hume that,
I think most local readers can relate to that statement.
I think we already have a strong "sense of place" here, but As Ian Adams pointed out in his recent Enterprise-Bulletin column - that vision of who we were, who we are and who we want to be is sometimes muddled. Local food, however, would not add to that confusion, but rather could help clarify our vision because it engages the community in a positive way, not simply dictates what might be called an arbitrary style.
In The Londoner, Hume himself is quoted as saying,
Hume relates food policy with other municipal efforts such as planning. The neighbourhood grocery stores and bakeries could return if we used a more inclusive sort of zoning that encouraged local commercial enterprises, rather than discouraged them with the sort of monolithic zoning in popular use today.
A few years back, an effort was made by our planning department to add some small-scale commercial to the mix for the development at the corner of High and Sixth Streets, but was rescinded after a minor show of resistance from, I'm told, the developers. Today, I hope, with our greater focus on walkability, pedestrian-centric development and active transportation, we would not be so short-sighted as to cave in, and would push for a mix that encouraged people to walk or bicycle to a local store, not just drive to a big-box outlet.
In the Toronto Sun, Hume wrote that municipalities have a far greater responsibility for issues than we normally assume, and that health is really a local issue:
We too often turn away from issues like health because they're seen as a provincial or even federal responsibility. But in fact we have a responsibility to maintaining the good health of our community and, while our actions may be limited in some areas, we can set the example. Where we can act, we should.
Creating a local food policy is one of those areas, and I am glad we took that step.
~~~~~
Hume's book is available from Municipal World and is a good place to start with this discussion. If you want to pursue this idea further, read The Omnivore's Dilemma as well. There are a lot of Web sites discussing the "locavore" issue, too. This is a growing trend among consumers - it just seems to be slower reaching municipal decision makers who are, on the whole, suspicious of change and innovation. The image at the top is from here and is found on other sites. Here's a downloadable toolbox for the image. A similar image is this (found, among other sites, here):
So when a staff report came up on Monday recommending a local food procurement policy for municipal events and functions, as well as recommending a coordinated effort between regional municipalities, farm produce suppliers, and the health unit to provide and encourage access to local foods, I thought it was a motherhood issue we would all stand behind.
After all, who, I wondered, would not stand up for and support local food producers, or support using local food in municipal events?
Councillor Edwards and Deputy Mayor Cooper, it seems. In a recorded vote, they both voted against the policy and the report's recommendations, and in part for somewhat similar reasons. More on that, below.
The recommendation on the agenda was that,
Quote
THAT Council receive Staff Report EDO2010-04, and approve the attached Municipal Food Procurement Policy to initiate the purchase of local food for internal municipal functions and events;
AND FURTHER THAT Council support coordinating efforts between various municipalities and agencies, such as the regional Economic Development Offices, Environment Network, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, Simcoe County Food Alliance, Business Improvement Areas, Chamber of Commerce and local farm food providers to enhance opportunities for citizens to access local food and to raise the awareness of the availability of local food through initiatives such as a Regional Food Procurement Policy.
AND FURTHER THAT Council support coordinating efforts between various municipalities and agencies, such as the regional Economic Development Offices, Environment Network, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, Simcoe County Food Alliance, Business Improvement Areas, Chamber of Commerce and local farm food providers to enhance opportunities for citizens to access local food and to raise the awareness of the availability of local food through initiatives such as a Regional Food Procurement Policy.
The staff report went on to say:
Quote
On Monday, May 10, Gary Machan of the Simcoe County Food Partners Alliance made a deputation to Collingwood Council requesting that Council consider a Food Procurement Policy. This type of policy has been adopted by other municipalities in Simcoe County and would ensure that a specific percentage of food (5%-10%) that is purchased by the municipality for special events and or meetings be obtained from local sources. Local to be defined as sourced with 100 miles or 160kms. Event co-ordinators will communicate the use of local food to event attendees.
In order to respect and support local food suppliers, and in order to ensure a sustainable and healthy environment, both for today and into the future, a Food Procurement Policy will increase the awareness of opportunities to procure local food and assist local food producers to make connections with consumers and food suppliers.
The definition for "local food" includes fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, beverages, fresh and frozen meats, poultry, fish as well as food made from a combination of these ingredients, being defined as food that is grown in the region with(in) 160km (or Ontario).
Many restaurants and caterers within the area have already endorsed the "local" farm fresh ingredients into their menus. Additionally there are several Farmers (sic) Markets and Farm Gate Sales currently in operation within the area.
In order to respect and support local food suppliers, and in order to ensure a sustainable and healthy environment, both for today and into the future, a Food Procurement Policy will increase the awareness of opportunities to procure local food and assist local food producers to make connections with consumers and food suppliers.
The definition for "local food" includes fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, beverages, fresh and frozen meats, poultry, fish as well as food made from a combination of these ingredients, being defined as food that is grown in the region with(in) 160km (or Ontario).
Many restaurants and caterers within the area have already endorsed the "local" farm fresh ingredients into their menus. Additionally there are several Farmers (sic) Markets and Farm Gate Sales currently in operation within the area.
So what, I ask you, is wrong with this idea? It's not another tax. It's not terribly restrictive - the percentage of local (Ontario-grown) food (5-10%) requested from suppliers is mostly symbolic and won't upset anyone's budget or economy. But if it becomes a trend in municipalities across the province, it could have a positive effect on Ontario farmers.
Quote
A Town of Collingwood local food procurement policy, will provide:
• A living document, to be reviewed annually that will provide a basis for ongoing discussion between all stakeholders
• A commitment on the part of the Town that local food will be given preference in food purchasing decisions.
• The production of a spring and fall newsletter in conjunction with the Environment Network outlining the benefits of purchasing local foods as well as the challenges producers, retailers and consumers face in supplying/purchasing food locally as well highlighting local food procurement opportunities (local being defined as grown in the region)
• A commitment to work with stakeholders to examine further opportunities to connect citizens with local (sic) produced food e.g. community gardens
• A living document, to be reviewed annually that will provide a basis for ongoing discussion between all stakeholders
• A commitment on the part of the Town that local food will be given preference in food purchasing decisions.
• The production of a spring and fall newsletter in conjunction with the Environment Network outlining the benefits of purchasing local foods as well as the challenges producers, retailers and consumers face in supplying/purchasing food locally as well highlighting local food procurement opportunities (local being defined as grown in the region)
• A commitment to work with stakeholders to examine further opportunities to connect citizens with local (sic) produced food e.g. community gardens
Preference to local food, reviewed annually, a newsletter, connecting citizens to locally-produced food. Again I fail to see any problem with this concept. And it fits with our approved goals for a sustainable community.
Here's a policy that won't cost us any significant amount of money, will encourage the local economy, will open doors for local food producers, and to create a "buzz" in local restaurants and grocery stores.
And it could help our tourism promotion. I recommended we create a standard window sign advertising "local produce used/sold here" for participants. I think with this sort of initiative, we can promote a hybrid blend of culinary and cultural interests as a marketing point for our community, as Stratford has done.
For me, the telling line in the report was this:
Quote
It is important to find ways to engage farmers, the agricultural community, food retailers (sic) and the community, to ensure that everyone involved feels heard.
Not just feels heard, I would argue, but becomes involved in an active, participatory way that helps us promote local food as the better and more sustainable alternative to foods imported from foreign sources.
Yes, I do understand that, living in an area with a short growing season, we are dependent on imported foods for a good part of the year. And like the rest of you, I like my imported strawberries and oranges in the winter when the only local produce consists of root vegetables stored in a cold cellar (for those of you who remember cold cellars...). But in part the importance of this policy lies in its educational component that gets consumers and restaurants to look for local produce, first, when making buying decisions.
An awareness of the importance of local food is crucial when council is making decisions on such things as residential developments that consume agricultural lands and thus diminish our capacity to produce foods locally. Growth is inevitable, but it's also irreversible. Once we allow agricultural land to be turned into subdivisions, they never go back.
Another selling point for me was this comment:
Quote
Education – we will need to educate decision makers about the food system and food system issues. A Food Procurement Policy that has been developed with extensive community involvement/input which receives "buy-in" from the community is a good indicator for local politicians and other decision-makers that the local food system issues are seen as an important priority by the community.
We're committing to an educational program that includes community involvement. What could be wrong with that?
Two members of council manged to find something they didn't agree with. I really can't fathom why they resisted an initiative that, from my perspective, benefits our region and local producers, as well as dovetails with our sustainability goals.
Councillor Edwards argued at the table he didn't want to see it as a "policy", merely something approved in nebulous "principle." "In principle" is usually a way to straddle the fence so you look like you're agreeing to something, but don't actually commit to it and when push comes to shove, you can safely ignore it because it's not a "policy". That's not a stand, it's an escape route.
Why Deputy Mayor Cooper voted against it, was a mystery to me. She, more than any of us at the table, understands the business of produce and food. In an email to me this week, Deputy Mayor Cooper asked, "Why another policy?" She explained she too "felt it could be (made in) a statement made through procurement." She wrote she had brought a similar discussion to council more than a year ago, but said there was no interest to pursue it.
While not supporting it as a town policy, Cooper wrote, "I am happy that the effort is being made. Not only are we supporting farmers but it tastes so much better less travelled."
As I see it, changing our procurement rules is also a policy change, but a much more muted one. It's barely visible to most people and carries none of the weight that this cooperative and more-publicized effort has. With this policy we make a public statement and we ingrain the concepts into the wider functions of the municipality.
I have read Hume's book, and I spoke with Gord Hume at the FCM conference in May. I think his ideas are not only cutting-edge in the field of sustainability, but underline a front-line trend for municipalities concerned about sustainability, and the local economy. From what I've read, those are things we should all be concerned about, and supportive of as a council (and I encouraged all of council to read his book).
In the Camrose Canadian, Brian McGaffigan wrote about a speech by Hume that,
Quote
Municipal governments need to be seen, and to act, as an agent of change and creativity, rather than as a killer of innovative ideas. Too often, writes Hume, the municipality is seen as an impediment to creativity and innovation.
I think most local readers can relate to that statement.
Quote
Municipalities need to understand better the vital importance of food, culture, and heritage to their economic success - with all the spin-offs. As Hume points out the food industry is enormous and has an immense part of any municipality's economy propelling much of municipal government activity and its budget priorities. Most council members and senior administration officials however have perhaps never contemplated the total impact of this budget factor.
Hume really believes that most communities and councils can do better. There is a need for change with clear and fresh thinking! Developing a strong sense of place is an important part of developing a creative community.
Hume really believes that most communities and councils can do better. There is a need for change with clear and fresh thinking! Developing a strong sense of place is an important part of developing a creative community.
I think we already have a strong "sense of place" here, but As Ian Adams pointed out in his recent Enterprise-Bulletin column - that vision of who we were, who we are and who we want to be is sometimes muddled. Local food, however, would not add to that confusion, but rather could help clarify our vision because it engages the community in a positive way, not simply dictates what might be called an arbitrary style.
In The Londoner, Hume himself is quoted as saying,
Quote
When you look at the spectrum of operations of what a municipality does, food has an impact on every one of them. Nobody has put that together before. Urban planning for one. First of all, a study in Utah a few years ago showed that people who lived in older neighbourhoods are leaner than people who live in more modern suburbs. The reason being they tend to walk more.
Fifty years ago we built suburbs for people; today we build them for their cars. In our planning we have got away from small, local neighbourhood grocery stores, fruit markets, bakeries, butcher shops, all that stuff. Instead we have created these huge, big box, suburban, edge-of-the-city stores where we buy vast quantities of food that we eventually throw out.
We have had a pretty strong history in Canada of food innovation. A lot of this country was founded, its towns and cities, were founded on agriculture. From the little towns on the ports in the Maritimes, from the prairie cities that clung to the railroad. Look at canola oil for example; it's a $6 billion industry now. Farmers markets are how we are going to support local growers, local suppliers.
One of the theories I have developed is that there is a whole new economic engine out there, culture plus culinary. Stratford is a good example of how the culture attracts a certain audience who also tend to be attracted to good food. So you think about how Stratford has married the two, it has become a remarkable economic driver for that community.
Fifty years ago we built suburbs for people; today we build them for their cars. In our planning we have got away from small, local neighbourhood grocery stores, fruit markets, bakeries, butcher shops, all that stuff. Instead we have created these huge, big box, suburban, edge-of-the-city stores where we buy vast quantities of food that we eventually throw out.
We have had a pretty strong history in Canada of food innovation. A lot of this country was founded, its towns and cities, were founded on agriculture. From the little towns on the ports in the Maritimes, from the prairie cities that clung to the railroad. Look at canola oil for example; it's a $6 billion industry now. Farmers markets are how we are going to support local growers, local suppliers.
One of the theories I have developed is that there is a whole new economic engine out there, culture plus culinary. Stratford is a good example of how the culture attracts a certain audience who also tend to be attracted to good food. So you think about how Stratford has married the two, it has become a remarkable economic driver for that community.
Hume relates food policy with other municipal efforts such as planning. The neighbourhood grocery stores and bakeries could return if we used a more inclusive sort of zoning that encouraged local commercial enterprises, rather than discouraged them with the sort of monolithic zoning in popular use today.
A few years back, an effort was made by our planning department to add some small-scale commercial to the mix for the development at the corner of High and Sixth Streets, but was rescinded after a minor show of resistance from, I'm told, the developers. Today, I hope, with our greater focus on walkability, pedestrian-centric development and active transportation, we would not be so short-sighted as to cave in, and would push for a mix that encouraged people to walk or bicycle to a local store, not just drive to a big-box outlet.
In the Toronto Sun, Hume wrote that municipalities have a far greater responsibility for issues than we normally assume, and that health is really a local issue:
Quote
Municipalities are responsible for local planning. How we design our subdivisions impacts the health of residents. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables has diminished in many neighbourhoods. Big box stores selling plastic packages of food result in over-shopping, over-eating and too much waste.
An estimated 40% of all food purchased is thrown away, at a cost to families of $3 billion to $5 billion annually.
Municipalities must reassess priorities. We must bring together governments at all levels, school boards, health units and community groups to develop localized food security plans.
A society that, according to an Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation report, will see its children live shorter lives than their parents, is a society hiding from a critical issue.
It is a municipal election year in Ontario. Food issues should be a point of discussion in them. The health of our kids and communities is at stake.
An estimated 40% of all food purchased is thrown away, at a cost to families of $3 billion to $5 billion annually.
Municipalities must reassess priorities. We must bring together governments at all levels, school boards, health units and community groups to develop localized food security plans.
A society that, according to an Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation report, will see its children live shorter lives than their parents, is a society hiding from a critical issue.
It is a municipal election year in Ontario. Food issues should be a point of discussion in them. The health of our kids and communities is at stake.
We too often turn away from issues like health because they're seen as a provincial or even federal responsibility. But in fact we have a responsibility to maintaining the good health of our community and, while our actions may be limited in some areas, we can set the example. Where we can act, we should.
Creating a local food policy is one of those areas, and I am glad we took that step.
~~~~~
Hume's book is available from Municipal World and is a good place to start with this discussion. If you want to pursue this idea further, read The Omnivore's Dilemma as well. There are a lot of Web sites discussing the "locavore" issue, too. This is a growing trend among consumers - it just seems to be slower reaching municipal decision makers who are, on the whole, suspicious of change and innovation. The image at the top is from here and is found on other sites. Here's a downloadable toolbox for the image. A similar image is this (found, among other sites, here):
