FarmStart

How fresh can a head of lettuce be after a 2000 kilometer trip to our grocery stores?

Fresh and Local: Potatoes Leeks and Radish

Canadians are increasingly recognizing the superior quality of fresh local foods as compared to foods imported from abroad. The sad truth is that the average distance traveled to get to our store shelves is over 2000 kilometers.

Many consumers are also concerned about the treatment of animals and the stewardship of lands and water resources used to produce their food. The vibrancy of Farmer’s Markets and the growth Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) speaks of customers’ desire for a personal bond with the farmers who produce their food.

There is huge import substitution potential within the Greater Toronto Area and local markets are increasingly attractive and economically viable for new farmers to enter, especially if accessed through direct marketing or local intermediaries. Support of small scale, local processing and packaging facilities provide more options for both farmers and consumers amid the trend toward consolidation of such facilities under one or two mega companies.

Emerging local markets include specialty foods for a wide range of ethno-cultural communities, under-served CSA markets in many urban areas and health conscious restaurants. There are also increasingly opportunities for farmers to produce local and sustainable for institutions through brokers such as Local Food Plus or Farm to School programs.