Reading Time: 3 minutes The world was once a scattering of small communities that through hunting and gathering, and later farming, were often self-sufficient. As systems of trade were built, dependent largely on the sea, goods and services had value and started to leave or be exported from these community hubs. In many cases, this brought an infusion of […] Read more
As we rethink globalization, we need to think about communities
In many parts of the world, the current system is broken and doesn’t serve consumers or farmers
Federal food policy aims to lift local and Canadian-grown products
Federal programs to boost the profile of domestic and locally grown foods at home while reducing food waste, food insecurity and deceptive food marketing are all up for funding under the government’s new Food Policy for Canada. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Parliamentary Ag Secretary Jean-Claude Poissant announced the new policy Monday in Montreal, following […] Read more
Local food trend is still hot
Reading Time: < 1 minute Growing interest in healthy eating and where food is produced continues to increase demand for local food, says a provincial consumer market analyst. “Data shows that for fresh food like fruits, vegetables and dairy — milk, butter, cheese, and yogurt – consumers show a strong preference for local brands,” said Jeewani Fernando. “Between 55 to […] Read more
Farmers and small processors tapped for local food council
The group has a year to find ways government can assist burgeoning local food sector
Reading Time: 2 minutes There’s no shortage of hands-on experience on a new advisory group charged with coming up with ways to boost Alberta’s local food sector. Creating a Local Food Council — and ensuring it had a healthy number of producers and processors of local food — was part of a bill titled Supporting Alberta’s Local Food Sector […] Read more
New Dutch ‘theme park’ aims to connect consumers with their food
The World Food Center will connect the entire value chain to share in the experience of food
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s a spark of life at an abandoned military base in the heart of the Netherlands’ Food Valley. You see it everywhere you look — in the students living in the dorms and working on the grounds; in the sports hall-turned-dining centre; in the modern offices now housed in the main building. But it’s only […] Read more
Couple weren’t millionaires — so they found a different way to farm
It’s not for everyone, says Ben Campbell, but direct marketing is a low-cost route to farming
Reading Time: 3 minutes Although Ben Campbell is a third-generation rancher, he didn’t have an operation he could take over. And when he looked at the math for starting his own ranch, it was worse than ugly — he figured he’d need $3 million in assets to generate an income of $50,000. “I didn’t have enough money to do […] Read more
Better together: Innisfail Growers is a testament to teamwork
The five farm families in the group have been successfully selling direct for more than 25 years
Reading Time: 4 minutes Beck Farms took an unorthodox approach to getting into the wholesale market when it was starting out in the mid-1980s — by selling directly to consumers. “We actually went to a few small farmers’ markets and had people try our carrots,” said Shelley Bradshaw, who owns Beck Farms with husband Rod. “We would say, ‘If […] Read more
Local food is putting down deep roots
One in 20 Alberta farms are selling directly to their customers, and there’s room for plenty more
Reading Time: 4 minutes The year Mark Gibeau started growing heritage grains, a book called The 100-Mile Diet had just come out. Suddenly it seemed everyone was using terms such as ‘local food’ and ‘locavore.’ It was good timing on Gibeau’s part, but would time be his friend? Would local food be one of those ‘here today gone tomorrow’ […] Read more
Alberta Open Farm Days hosts wanted
Registration deadline is May 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers and ranchers are invited to share stories, educate, and expand their markets as hosts for Alberta Open Farm Days, which takes place on Aug. 18-19. Alberta Open Farm Days is a province-wide, two-day event that showcases agriculture, local food, and ag-tourism by inviting the public to come out and directly experience the farm. Alberta […] Read more
Is Piedmontese ‘the beef of the future?’
There’s just one herd in Alberta, but rancher Peter DenOudsten says yield and taste give the Italian breed a big advantage
Reading Time: 4 minutes Peter DenOudsten never intended to become a Piedmontese cattle producer when he bought a few cows in the late ’80s to graze off some grassland he couldn’t crop. “I only had a few cows and it wasn’t worth having a bull around, so I just got Dad to artificially inseminate them with some beef semen […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
