Local food the subject of University Women’s event in Perth

Jeff Green | Apr 19, 2012

Each year the Canadian Federation of University Women sponsors an information evening in Perth. Last year the difficult topic of prescription drug abuse was explored.

This year, the information evening was called “The Power of Local Food”, and was held on April 16.

Janet Duncan, the co-owner of Dunbrae Farms in Almonte, hosted the event, which was structured around short presentations by a range of presenters, from farm-based businesses, to restaurants with a commitment to local produce and meat, Foodsmiths food store in Perth, and the upstart farmers market in Sharbot Lake.

Duncan did not mince words in describing the general state of agriculture and food production in the region, however.

"Sixty years ago Canada’s agricultural policy was focused on feeding ourselves, but that has changed to a focus on producing food for export,” she said. “Fifty percent of our vegetables are now imported and 80% of our fruit. And in terms of agricultural production 2/3 of family farms in Canada have folded since 1945.”

She said that she is encouraged, however, by the fact that a number of younger people are entering the farming businesses, and also by the amount and variety of local food that has become available in recent years.

“We are here tonight to talk about how farmers and eaters are becoming re-acquainted,” Janet Duncan said.

The first of the speakers was Bill Dobson, a beef farmer who talked about how his daughter and her partner have taken over his farm and are turning it into a sheep farm that will be bringing cheese, lamb, and yarn to market starting this year.

Christine Swaren, a former civil servant, talked about the joys and struggles of organic farming.

Aynsley Gabreil-Buchanan of Café Mera in McDonalds Corners talked about how a weekend food business ties in to a commitment to community development and the ability to produce food that is sourced extremely locally, within 15 miles.

Pat Furlong talked about the short and intense history of the development of the farmers' market in Sharbot Lake last summer, which went from an idea that was floated at a meeting in March to a successful opening two months later. This could not have taken place, she said, without significant support from Mayor Gutowski and the Township of Central Frontenac and the efforts of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation.

There were also presentations from Foodsmiths store, Castlegarth Restaurant and Farm, and from a teacher who has started up a vegetable garden at her school.