‘At the Farm Gate’ program links buy-local consumers, producers

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This article was published 10/06/2010 (5578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Attention local farmers and artisans — Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve has a new initiative and they want you to get involved.

"We all know that there is a growing trend of people who are following the ‘100-mile Diet’, eating locally, cooking more meals at home, and becoming aware of sustainable eco-conscious eating and green foods," says Valerie Pankratz, Executive Director of Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve.

"These same people are concerned about the quality of the food that they are eating, their health and the health of the environment."

Hence, the "At The Farm Gate" program.

The biosphere reserve encompasses 3,000 square kilometres of mixed wood forest, eastern deciduous forest, and rough fescue prairie and includes a Zone of Co-operation, which consists of the 15 municipalities that surround Riding Mountain National Park, comprising an additional 12,000 square kilometres.

Much of this land is used for farming, though the truth is often times we are unaware that our neighbour is selling something we would likely drive to the store for.

"When I go to buy groceries, there are potatoes from the United States for sale, but they are literally growing all around me" says Trevor Gill, who is working as a server in the area this summer.

"If I knew where to go I would rather buy my food from my neighbours and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions."

The goal of this project is help these "locavores" to find locally produced, fresh products that many of our small family farms are already producing and selling "At the Farm Gate", such as farm fresh eggs, grass-fed or free-range beef, pork, and chicken, jams, jellies and preserves, baking, fruits and vegetables.

"There are a ton of people waiting to find out who is selling what in these communities. Everyone wants to eat local food and support our local economy. We have the buyers; now where are the suppliers?" Pankratz said.

The benefits to eating local food are numerous. Not only is the food fresher but also there is less of an environmental impact.

The average food item travels between 2,500-4,000 kms to reach Manitoba dinner plates. It’s not just that food travels far: plastic wrapping, labels, jars, colouring, flavouring, boxes and cans all get shipped to factories to process and package our food before it is shipped to warehouses and stores. Local food is often less processed, less packaged and isn’t shipped as far, cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of the "At The Farm Gate" Program, RMBR is holding a free workshop for the afternoons of June 17 and 18 in Rossburn and McCreary. Subject matter will include buying local in the biosphere, marketing your product, farm safety and panel discussions.

 

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