The _End_of_Food
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February 1, 2007The End of Food -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------by Jeff Green
With the provocative title of his popular book, writer Thomas Pawlick points to the changes that have taken place in the food system over the past 60 years.
As he noted in a talk he gave to the Lanark Slow Food group last weekend, government research, both in the United States and Canada, has shown that the vitamins and minerals in supermarket produce have decreased by as much as 70% in that time frame.
For instance, since 1950, supermarket potatoes in Canada no longer contain Vitamin A, and their iron quotient has been reduced by 57% along with their Vitamin C. Meanwhile, tomatoes have lost 61.5% of their calcium, 35.5% of their iron and 50% of their Vitamin A, while gaining 200% more sodium.
The decrease in food value has taken place incrementally over time, and Pawlick sees its source in the way agricultural practices have developed over the years.
In researching his book, Pawlick travelled to some massive farms in California and elsewhere, and talked to regulators and food industry officials to get an understanding of the logic that drives the agriculture in North America.
What he found is that the corporate ethos is so strong in mass agriculture that concerns over taste and nutrition are non-existent.
“When I saw lists of the top ten criteria for planting a particular type of tomato, for example, size, colour, yield, resistance to disease, and ability to withstand long distance shipping were all mentioned. But not taste or nutrition,” he told the audience in Perth.
Pawlick mentioned that there are about 5,000 varieties of tomatoes in existence, but most supermarkets carry only three, and only four are planted in large numbers in North America.
Another issue is mono-cropping. By using chemical fertilisers dominated by synthetically produced nitrogen, thousands of acres are planted with a single crop, be it corn, spinach, or tomatoes, year after year. While the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium based fertilizers enable the soil to produce large crops of the same plant year after year, Pawlick says there are many other trace minerals in the soil which are continually depleted. “It is no wonder that the food value of the vegetables is continually dropping. Traditional agriculture provides for moving crops around after a few years. This gives the soil a chance to recover.”
Thomas Pawlick is also critical of the mass marketing of organic products, saying that the lobbyists from the large food companies have worked very hard to make it easier for mass produced products to be classed as organic.
Food is the only product that has continually come down in price over the years. “People pay a lower per cent of their income for food now than ever before, and this is only possible by putting pressure on the suppliers. Even mid-sized farms can no longer survive. Only massive operations have remained profitable,” he said.
Pawlick farms himself, with the help of his son, and he said that he has two neighbours, one who runs an organic farm, and one who uses conventional techniques; however, none of the three farms are able to provide an adequate income.
Industrial agriculture, whether the product is spinach, tomatoes, chickens, or hogs, is detrimental to the land, has devastated small town and rural economies, and produces an inferior product, according to Thomas Pawlick.
He is currently working on a new book, wherein he hopes to be able to promote solutions to some of the problems he delineated in “The End of Food”.
The solutions that he offered up to the Slow Food group in Perth were ones that were familiar to his audience: plant a garden and shop at a farmers’ market, all things that Slow Food advocates are familiar with.
The Kingston Frontenac National Farmer’s Union chapter, which is embarking on a sustainable local agriculture project this year, made a short presentation after Pawlick’s talk. Their vision of bringing together farmers and consumers from a 100 km radius around Kingston fits in well with the kinds of things Thomas Pawlick was saying.
Eating locally seems to be the only way to ensure that the product is of top quality and producers are receiving a fair price for their efforts.
Articles from January 18Third time lucky for South, North Frontenac:The 3rd and final intake of submissions to the Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) resulted in funding support for relatively small initiatives in South and North Frontenac.
Flinton Habitat build: Executive
members from the Prince Edward Hastings Affiliate of Habitat for
Humanity met with the newly formed Flinton Build committee and the
public at the Flinton Rec. Hall on Jan. 16
Biosphere, Committees, and the bridge: South Frontenac Council meetingThree strikes at Comrif for Addington Highlands: Addington Highlands Council meeting of January 15.Frontenac Heritage FestivalIt's Election Year, again: EditorialLetters
Lions_club_dash
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Feature Article - March 8, 2007Lions Club grocery dash benefits FoodBankby Jeff Green
Greta McQuaid didn’t take long to decide what to do when she won the Lions Club’s three-minute shopping spree at the Sharbot Lake Freshmart store.
“The Food Bank needs supplies way more than I do,” Greta said in explaining her decision to pass her prize to the North Frontenac Food Bank.
A group of Lions members and store employees joined Greta McQuaid last Thursday morning at 8:30am to watch as Liz Scott, a volunteer with the food bank, motored through the store in search of Food Bank items.
Liz Scott needed a game plan because there were some rules she had to follow. She was limited to two of each item, although she could grab whole flats of products where they were available. Since she was shopping for the Food bank, she had to forego all frozen or perishable foods, so it was quite a challenge to maximise her time.
So, as Lion Dave Hansen called out the time at 15 second intervals, Liz Scott dashed off to the canned food section, tossing soups stews into her first cart. By the time she reached the three minute mark, a flushed Liz Scott had filled three carts with coffee, peanut butter, canned goods and cereals, spending a total of $300 in Lions’ Club money.
Well before the store opened at 9:00 a.m., the total had been tallied and the food wheeled right over to the Food Bank to stock the shelves.
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Feature Article - April 12, 2007TOPSawards ceremony
by Christine Campsall
Sharbot Lake TOPS held a very special evening on March 26. The chapter got together to honour TOPS members for losing weight and KOPS members for maintaining the weight they had lost in 2006.Other awards were given out to members for their accomplishments in working towards their goal to become healthier by making wise food choices.We gave a new award out this year in memory of Gwen, a very special person within our chapter. It was a plaque engraved in her honour.Dorothy, a very deserving KOPS, received this plaque. Cathy, our eight year KOPS, performed the installation of this year’s officers. TOPS is dedicated to helping members lose weight with the use of programs that inform about nutrition, food planning, exercise and more in weekly meetings. Weigh-ins, group feedback, support and motivation help members to achieve their goals.
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Feature Article - April 5, 2007Interest in Northbrook community garden is growing!
by Cheryl Hartwick
Are you interested in gardening? Do you have a green thumb?
A local steering committee is looking for people, novice or pro, who may be interested in a community garden. The group is hoping to promote and increase production of locally-produced food, through several local strategies, beginning with the development of a community garden in Northbrook at the Pine Meadow Nursing Home site.
The plan is to have the garden up and “growing” (pun intended) this summer with horticulture and environmental leadership programs for children and families, a communal gardening site and individual raised garden plots for interested community members. Other plans currently being investigated include supporting and increasing home gardening in the Land o’ Lakes region, the possibility of developing a food cooperative (and perhaps a producers’ cooperative) and, over the next couple of years, starting a community greenhouse using the principles of aquaponics.
Aquaponics is a sustainable way of growing food that combines aquaculture and hydroponics. The unique advantages of aquaponic systems are 1) conservation through constant water reuse and recycling; 2) organic fertilization of plants with natural fish emulsion; 3) the elimination of solid waste disposal from intensive aquaculture; 4) the reduction of needed cropland to produce like crops; 5) the overall reduction of environmental footprint for crop production (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics).
If you are interested in getting involved, sharing your gardening knowledge, or learning more about the ideas, there is a community meeting on Tuesday, April 10 at the Lion’s Hall in Northbrook. Come out and help make our community greener and more beautiful.
For more information, contact Tom Arniel at Pathways for Children and Youth in Northbrook at 613-336-8934.
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Feature Article - 24, 2007Community garden a positive experience
Submitted by Larry Pealow
Thanks to everyone who helped make the Community Garden build Day at Pine Meadow Nursing Home a great success. In just over two hours on May 12 about 30 people, some as young as five, met at the new community garden site and worked together to construct four raised garden beds, while many residents enjoyed watching the whirl wind of activity.
The garden has become a reality thanks to Land o’ Lakes Community Services, who granted use of the site and the support of many volunteers, community members and local businesses. A special thank you goes out to the residents and staff of Pine Meadow Nursing Home, and Andy Anderson for the use of his front-loading tractor. The garden is part of a larger plan called the Land O’ Lakes Food Security Initiative, which focuses on improving the health and vitality of communities in the Land O’ Lakes area by promoting strategies for increasing local sustainable food production.Founding members of this group are Tom Arniel, Andy Anderson and Larry Pealow.
The volunteers gratefully acknowledge the generous donation of soil by Gilles Paquette, wood for the raised beds from Thomco of Tweed and retaining stakes from Yourway Building Centre, Northbrook.
They are currently in the planning stage for a broader range of food sustainability. For more information or to get involved in the garden or other initiatives related to food security, call Tom at (613) 336-1555.
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Feature Article - May 10, 2007Letters
Alarming number of toxins in use today
My wife and I have chemical sensitivities. Our lives are changed. The world is now a hostile place. Effects of exposures can vary from disabling flu-like symptoms to life-threatening (asthma). These sensitivities are the results of previous repeated exposures. (It may happen to you, too.)
Over the course of the Easter long weekend, a major renovation took place at our local Royal Bank branch – a complete makeover. New floors, counters, etc. greeted me on my arrival the following Tuesday morning. Also there to welcome me was the overwhelming atmosphere of toxic, solvent-laden fumes; the result of the off-gassing of the various materials used during the renovation process. By the time I was able to leave, my head was pounding, heart racing, lips were numb; I was light-headed, and had a sharp, metallic taste in my mouth. In short, I was very ill for the rest of the day.
Now, I am not uninformed regarding the make-up of some of the materials used, and they do indeed contain various acknowledged hazardous chemicals. There are government-mandated MSDS (Manufacturers Safety Data Sheets) for these products, and these instructions for safe usage should be adhered to. High on the list is good ventilation and the use of an appropriate breathing apparatus. The information is there; unfortunately, it is often ignored.
When I registered my concern, I was asked “Is anyone else complaining? Are the employees?” Great! I can see it now. “Well, the canary died…but the miners still seem okay.”
There are an alarming number of hazardous, toxic, and carcinogenic chemicals in use today, incorporated into many commonly-used products. We avoid them in our home, and I resent being involuntarily exposed, especially in public spaces. Had I walked into the bank and lit a cigarette there would have been an outcry. Why is it acceptable to expose customers and employees to other toxins with impunity?
April is “Cancer” month. Isn’t it ironic that we can “Walk for the Cure”, all the while coming up with new ways to give it ourselves?
- Bob Miller, Activist in the making!
Food Down The Road – a Local Reality
The article by Jeff Green, “Food down the Road – towards a local food system” (Frontenac News, May 3), is both encouraging and timely. In the article, Jeff states that the National Farmers’ Union local 316 project is aimed at “developing a sustainable local food system in the region.”
While “North of Seven” may be a little beyond the perimeter of the Food Down The Road Project (defined as a 100 km radius around Kingston), a small group of highly enthusiastic community people in the Northbrook area is taking one small step along the road to making the aim of the sustainable local food system project a practical reality.
Saturday morning (May 12 – 9:00 am – noon) they plan to construct several raised garden plots next to Pine Meadows Nursing Home using donated lumber, top-soil, and organic compost. Once constructed, the garden plots will be made available to interested individuals, families, or groups for the purpose of either (a) growing their own fruit and vegetables (and flowers, if they so choose), or (b) growing produce to share with others.
The hope and intention of the initiators of the community garden is that this project will provide a model and an incentive for others to start their own community gardens.
Whether your interest is in caring well for the Earth, learning more about gardening, sharing your accumulated gardening wisdom, eating delicious, nutritious produce, or making new friends, put one foot in front of the other and…
If you happen to be out and about the Northbrook area this Saturday morning,
May 12th, take a drive around Pine Meadows Nursing Home. Say hello to the work crew who will be constructing the raised garden plots for this area’s first community garden. Better yet, bring your gardening tools with you and join the party.
Eleanor Belfry-Lyttle
Wildfire in North Frontenac
On Saturday, May 5, a brush fire started on the northeast corner of our property at the Wintergreen road in Barrie Township. At this location the high voltage power lines run west towards Northbrook. We smelled smoke, discovered the fire, and called 911. No more than 10 minutes later the fire department was on site and setting up to fight this wild fire. Since there was a strong wind out of the east and everything was very dry, the fire moved across the property and down the power line easement with great speed.
The MNR was contacted and within an hour a helicopter with a firefighting crew was on the way from Pembroke and water bomber airplanes dispatched from Gravenhurst. The fire was finally brought under control by 7PM after two extra water bombers were brought in from Quebec. It was stopped just 100 metres from our neighbour's cabin.
No cause has been determined as yet, but it looks like it could well have been started by a discarded cigarette. In total, approximately 60 acres were burned and crews were still working to put out hotspots on Monday afternoon. We owe our local firefighters, the MNR fire crew, and the MNR a great “Thank You”. They worked without stopping from dawn till dusk each day in very rugged conditions. It is very important to realize that if they had not been able to control the fire when they did, it would have been on its way to Northbrook, less than 5km away.
This fire cost tens of thousands of dollars to fight. One water bomber costs over $2,000 per hour.
Please be careful with all sources of fire at all times.
Thanks, firefighters, you did a great job.
- Frank McEvoy
Editor’s Note: As of Tuesday morning May 8, firefighters were still struggling to contain this fire. A complete fire ban is now in effect in Addington Highlands, North, Central and South Frontenac Townships.-
Re: K&P Trails
I wish to lend my support to the efforts of the mayor and council of Central Frontenac in attempting to acquire the old K&P rail line. Recreation trails are now important and will become, in my opinion, even more important in years to come. What a shame that a track bed that would have cost millions of dollars to construct in another time could be lost forever. This acquisition is well within the mandate of a municipal council and I hope all the various parties will co-operate to have the trail run from Kingston to Sharbot Lake and then beyond.
I hope ratepayers from all the municipalities will support the efforts of their councils to purchase and develop this link so that the trails will be available to all recreation users in the future.
Keep up the good work.
- Wayne Robinson
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Feature Article - May 10, 2007In search of the Wild Leek
by Jeff Green
Crow Lake-based Chef Ludwig Ratsinger was familiar with wild food from his birth country, Germany, so when he was settling in at the Oaks resort several years ago, he asked a neighbour if he knew anything about wild leeks.
The neighbour told Ludwig about a spot where wild leeks were plentiful, and he wasn’t kidding. In a secluded locale, next to a pond, Ludwig was shown a patch of wild leeks that spans several acres.
Even so, Ludwig does not harvest the garlic-like bulbs, which would kill the plant, preferring only to harvest the tender spring leaves of the plant during a short spring leek season.
The only bulbs he takes are being used to try and establish a patch near his home.
Ludwig has taken some profit from the Wild Leeks, however, preparing recipes for inclusion in the latest edition of Food and Drink Magazine (available at LCBO stores).
Even with the short season, it is possible to enjoy Wild Leeks year round without digging up a single bulb, by preparing pesto and freezing it (see Ludwig’s recipe below)
Wild Leek PestoIngredients 1/2 cup whole almonds (or pine nuts) 2 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano ( or Romano), coarsely grated (2/3 cup) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 3 cups loosely packed fresh wild leek leaves 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil Preparation: With food processor running, drop in almonds and finely chop. Stop motor and add cheese, salt, pepper, and wild leek, then process until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil, blending until incorporated. Freeze in ice cube trays (keeps up to a year) or store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
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Feature Article - May 3, 2007Food down the road - towards a local food system
by Jeff Green
In one sense the idea of supporting local farmers and market gardeners is simple; it’ s a matter of shopping at farmers’ markets and roadside stalls when possible. By taking it one step further, however, and looking at all of the food purchases families and individuals make, the reality comes clear: most of what we buy is delivered to us from long distances, and it is often heavily processed, affecting its food value.
The implications of this reality, and its impacts on the health and well being of city and country dwellers in a 100 km radius around Kingston spurred the National Farmers’ Union local 316 to organise “Food Down the Road”. This nine-month project is aimed at developing a sustainable local food system in the region.
The first few months of the project have been centred around a four-part speakers’ series on different topics: Harvesting Support For Local Food; The Future Of Food And Food Sustainability; Taking Steps Towards Local Food For All; and Supporting Structures For Vibrant Local Food Systems.
Three of these events have now taken place, and the fourth is scheduled for May 10 at Kingston City Hall, with guest speakers Wayne Roberts and Lori Stahlbrand.
At the same time, a network of participants in the project is being developed. This network is made up of farmers, including those active in the Verona Farmers’ Market, and consumers, restauranteurs, civic activists, municipal employees, politicians and others.
At the most recent event, on April 24, anti-poverty activists were invited to meet with farmers, business people, and municipal officials from Kingston to talk about how the food needs of the most vulnerable group in the Kingston community are being served, and about how a local food project could be developed that would have an impact on this situation.
Part of the incentive of this session was to broaden the scope of ‘Food Down the Road’, so it is seen as more than a program promoting expensive organic local food for the middle and upper classes.
In Kingston, a major developing issue is that the poorer north end of the city has lost its grocery store, leaving people who don’t own vehicles with a problem accessing any food. Other issues include the fact that processed food is both cheaper and easier to prepare, with instructions on packaging such as “heat and serve”.
“Many people, from all economic classes, don’t know what to do with a potato, so it’s hard to sell them a local potato,” said one participant.
David Hahn, the President of NFU local 316, and a participant at the session, didn’t think the argument that local food is too expensive for anyone holds water.
He pointed to a program in one city in the United States where a local food bank also runs an organic vegetable farm. “They sell their produce to keep the business profitable, and a certain percentage of the vegetables go directly to the food bank. There are plenty of solutions to the food problem; we just need to find them,” he said.
A major focus of Food Down the Road is developing the Kingston market for food grown in the outlying region, and this has led to a partnership with St. Lawrence College and the City of Kingston, both of whom have been sending representatives to the events.
On the rural end, the participation of the Frontenac Federation of Agriculture, in the person of its President John Williamson, has been a welcome addition to what is an initiative of the National Farmers’ Union.
The Frontenac Federation of Agriculture has 400 members, about 2/3 of whom raise cattle, either in dairy or cow/calf-breeding operations. Most of the rest raise cash crops, such as corn, soy, or wheat.
John Williamson told the News that he thinks Food Down the Road “is positive in the sense that anything we can do to focus attention on food and food security is beneficial.”
Williamson sees some limits to the impact of the process, but thinks it ties in well with a more general goal of promoting regional and national agriculture.
“To me the first thing is to buy Canadian, the second is to buy from Ontario, and the third is to buy local. If we can get people thinking this way, and get labelling in place so that consumers are buying Canadian when they think they are, we will all be better off.”
Economies of scale in the food system have brought about changes that will not be reversed, according to Williamson, and the majority of food eaten in Eastern Ontario will continue to be grown and produced elsewhere.
“But any increase in the number of local producers, market gardeners, pork or beef producers that are selling a quality product to a developing market, will only mean there are more local farms, and that is good for all of us,” Williamson said. “I’m strong supporter of the family farm. They are much better for the local economy. ”
As Food Down the Road wends its way towards its culmination at a local food summit scheduled for the fall, the perspectives of as many local food system participants as possible are being sought. In the Food Down the Road literature, the food summit is described as an opportunity to “explore and discuss the many facets of local market and food system development. From sustainable agriculture practices to land access for young farmers to local food access for low income families we will cover a lot of ground together.”
Organisers are trying to secure a well-known keynote speaker from the burgeoning alternative food movement for the summit.
Further information about Food Down the Road is available at nfu.ca/on/misc_files/FoodDownRoad.html.
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Feature Article - May 3, 2007SouthFrontenacCouncil
by Wilma Kenny
Federal Response re Mitchell Creek Bridge
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, in a response to Mayor Davison’s letter of December 6, reconfirmed his ministry’s requirements for the project. Frequently referring to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA), he made the following points:
a) navigable water is defined as any body of water capable of being navigated by any type of floating vessel for the purposes of transportation, recreation or commerce;
b) because the present bridge is over 70 years old and not a lawful work under the NWPA, it is not a legally approved bridge, and therefore must be brought up to standard. Anything less would "compromise the safety of the boating public;"
c) approval has already been given for clearances below those stipulated by the Navigable Waters Protection Program, which states that minimum safe clearances for small, unpowered vessels should be 1.5 metres vertically and 3 metres horizontally. Because of its design, the Mitchell Creek bridge will be 1.5 metres vertically but only 2 metres horizontally.
d) COMRIF funding, which will provide 2/3 of the cost of the bridge building, requires full compliance with NWPA regulations.
Cannon’s letter also said that the environmental assessment, which examines potential impacts on local species such as adverse living conditions for Northern Map and Stinkpot turtles, has recommended specific (unspecified) mitigation measures and on-going monitoring. "Environment Canada has indicated that implementing mitigation measures is in fact expected to enhance the turtles’ existing habitat, which may in turn increase the local populations of these species," states the Honourable Lawrence Cannon.
Fortunately, two weeks ago the South Frontenac Environmental committee outlined their plans to order several ‘turtle crossing’ signs for the Township.
(see response from Mitchell Creek Association below)
Township Commissions Waste Management Study
Council agreed to adopt the recommendation of the Sustainability Committee that the Public Works Manager be asked to develop terms of reference for a township waste management study, to be carried out by the firm presently reviewing the landfill sites (Totten, Sims & Hubicki). All but Councilors Robinson and Hicks were in favour.
To Spray or Not to Spray?
Last fall, council passed a resolution asking Hydro One not to spray herbicide on township property. Mayor Davison suggested that they might wish to revisit that stand in view of the recent information brought to Committee of the Whole by Hydro One last week. Council agreed to discuss the issue at the next Committee of the Whole (May 8). Councillor Hahn reported that the required separation distance from an organic farm for the type of hand spraying done by Hydro is 8 metres. However, he expressed concern that there was no requirement to notify a farmer of any herbicide treatment on adjoining properties.
Food Down the Road
Kim Perry, chair of the Frontenac Farmers’ Market, and Andrew McCann of the National Farmers Union made a brief presentation about the local food movement, which is a part of the increasing interest in supporting local family farms. Kim Perry described the enthusiastic reception of the first three Feast of the Fields events, which have showcased local foods and farms. All have been sold out ahead of time. A recently published directory, "Eating Close to Home" lists farms which sell locally, and what they sell. The NFU is planning a local food summit this fall, and McCann invited councillors to come to the final of four "Food Down the Road" seminars on May 10, 7:30 pm at the Memorial Hall, Kingston City Hall, when Lori Stahlbrand and Wayne Roberts will discuss the structures that support local food development. Perry also reminded council of the Farmers Market every Saturday morning at the Verona Lions’ hall, a lively place to come for breakfast, sociability and an opportunity to buy directly from a variety of local producers. Both speakers asked council to support the local farmers by keeping in touch and staying informed.
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Feature Article - June 14, 2007Local Family Farms; alternative food store in Veronaby Jeff Green .
Discerning
food shoppers who are looking for a healthy, local alternative now have
another option in Verona: Local Family Farms, a new store that Kim
Perry had opened at the location that was formerly the home of Pam’s
Country Bulk.
Kim Perry was one of the founders of the Frontenac Farmers’ Market, which is open every Saturday from February to Christmas at the Verona Lions’ Hall from 8-1, where she can still be found each week with cuts of beef and homemade meat pies and tourtieres.
The new store is open 6 days a week, from 10-6.
“I am trying to source food from within 100 kilometres or our store whenever I can,” Kim Perry said from the store earlier this week.
Most of the cuts of beef for sale come from her and husband Dave’s farm, and the beef is used for beef pies and tourtieres as well. Other meat, pork and lamb (in season) is from regional sources, as is the honey, maple syrup, and many of the dried herbs. In the next couple of weeks, strawberries from Crooked Hills Farm in Clarendon will be available, and fresh bread and rolls from the Rising Bun (Sharbot Lake) are being sold at the store every day.
There are potted plants from a Napanee grower, soaps from Seeley’s Bay, coffee from a roaster in Kingston who sells organic fair trade coffee, and organic grains from an Ottawa Valley mill. Even the tomatoes and cucumbers for sale are produced in a greenhouse in Glenburnie, and as the summer progresses and local produce becomes abundant, it will be available at the store.
In addition to ingredients, Local Family Farms provides prepared meals. Steven Johnston, the owner of the Korner Stone Kastle B&B, located just up the road, has joined the store to prepare take out dishes made with the the freshest ingredients.
This week, using potatoes sourced from an 11 acre farm in Napanee, Steven made a roasted garlic and potato soup. The soup already has a following with patrons of the B&B, and with the employees at the local post office where Steven works sometimes.
Steven said “it’s so convenient for me to be working here, so close to home and my business.”
As the business grows on, more and more local products will be available at Local Family Farms, and for those without time to cook, the produce will be turned into hearty meals in the kitchen at the back of the store.
Local Family Farms joins recent initiatives by the National Farmer’s Union such as Feast of Fields and the Food Down the Road project, along with the Mill Street Cafin Sydenham, the Fall River Pub and Grill in Maberly, and the Verona Farmer’s Market, in bringing eaters and growers together in Frontenac County. ■
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