Local Food

fruits and vegetables piled at a farmers market, a shopper going through the produce.

Food Policy Council to develop comprehensive local food strategy

November 29, 2024 by Christena Lawrie

The Food Policy Council (FPC) for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington has announced they will be developing a a comprehensive food strategy for the region in the coming year.

The Food Policy Council was formed in 2013 as a space for community members to discuss and investigate local food issues. Members now include municipal representatives, community groups, and academics.

In a project completed in the spring in collaboration with the Queen’s PhD Community Initiative, students laid down pillars for a food strategy, including food education and literacy, food system governance, food infrastructure, food production, food access, and culture and community.

Practical applications of a food strategy could involve improvements ranging from changes within farmers markets to enhancements in transportation, all aimed at making local food more accessible.

FPC Co-chair Ellen Mortfield and Assistant Professor in Environmental Studies at Queen’s University Kristen Lowitt talk to CFRC News.

City to promote more plant-based food options

October 25, 2024 by Christena Lawrie

After declaring ‘October is Plantiful’ in 2023, Kingston’s City Council has now approved a motion led by Sydenham councillor Conny Glenn to prioritize plant-based food options, focusing on health and sustainability.

The motion mandates that plant-based options be included in food purchases and prominently featured at events by the City. It also includes collaboration with community partners on education and awareness campaigns promoting the benefits of a plant-rich diet.

“It’s about showing by example a different way forward in terms of how we eat,” Councillor Glenn explained. “This, I think, is a reasonable motion that is, again, about moving that needle a little closer. All of the things that we’re doing in terms of efforts to promote health and wellbeing, to take pressure off the healthcare system, which is overloaded, all of the initiatives that we’re also working on towards addressing environmental issues and climate change. This is just another piece of that puzzle.”

The motion passed with a vote of 10-3.

Plums in a basket with other produce in the background.

Loving Spoonful changes annual Night Market into Block Party to celebrate local food

August 22, 2024 by Christena Lawrie

After 6 years of hosting the Night Market, non-profit organization Loving Spoonful is instead hosting a Block Party in celebration of local food.

Loving Spoonful is a local organization focused on food security and building community around food.

In an interview with CFRC, Loving Spoonful Executive Director Stephen Gard explained that they worked together with the Memorial Center Farmers Market to come up with a family friendly event focused on local food, farmers and vendors.

The new event will debut on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 9 A.M.to 2 P.M. at the Memorial Centre (303 York St.).

An arrangement of shrubbery, edible plants, and herbs grow, and overwhelm the right hand side of the photo frame. Triangles constituting a geodesic dome can be seen in the background.

College’s launches survey to strengthen community’s food security and independence

February 22, 2024 by Ian Gregg

As the cost of groceries increase, Prince George residents have become familiar with empty shelves at the grocery store during the past few years. Many have become curious about local food security.

To assess the impact of grocery inflation on households and people’s knowledge of food security, the College of New Caledonia (CNC), is launching a survey. Shelby Roberts, Research Associate at CNC’s Applied Research and Innovation department is working with the Public Health Association of BC with funding from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Roberts says, “Food is directly liked to health.” By documenting what food sources people are accessing, and what their limitations are, solutions to better address the gaps can be explored.

Data gathered from the survey may influence what courses are offered at the college, from wild food harvesting, to gardening in the Prince George climatic zone. The survey can be found on CNC’s website here, is open until March 1st, and a participant will win a $100 gift card.

Food Policy Council to develop comprehensive local food strategy

City to promote more plant-based food options

Loving Spoonful changes annual Night Market into Block Party to celebrate local food

College’s launches survey to strengthen community’s food security and independence

Some rights reserved © 2024 - frequencynews.ca

Developed and hosted by Natiotech