B3-Can the 100-mile diet feed Ontario?

Jonathan Vandersteen -  Increased concerns re: energy, peak oil, environment, etc.

100 mile diet is a tangible, simple diet.  Currently only 2% of what we are eating in Kingston comes from the Kingston basin?

Is it possible physically to produce the food necessary to feed all people in Ontario from land in Ontario?

Are the motivations there to pursue a 100-mile diet?

Take a look at how people in Brant County are trying to promote the idea.

Gary Van Loon - much easier for a non-vegetarian than a vegetarian.

Fruits and vegetables are the major issue.  

Hundred mile storage is an issue - local processing is no longer available. 

New Food People - we don't have a way to process chickens locally or on a larger scale to supply a larger market.  Poultry production in Canada is federally regulated

There used to be canneries everywhere in Ontario.

Could the focus of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission address the desire to implement and sustain food processing for 100-mile radius as well as it does for the global market approach?

Question - how much more are we willing to pay for our food?

A 2008 provincial report says 70% of Ontarians will pay more for local food, most of them, up to 6% more

We are currently in a 'bigger is better' model. If we want to 'go local' have to be willing to work more hours on smaller scale. 

Farmers are seeking a different lifestyle than they used to - ergo they need to get bigger so they can have hired labour maintain the farm.

An energy crisis and economic downturn will define the future employment situation.

100 mile diet in Kingston should include lakes (fish, etc.).  There are opportunities such as tunneling - need to invest in technologies.

Are there opportunities to work together in a co-operative fashion to increase efficiency?

Maybe import some foods (ones we can't grow here) from low-income countries to support agriculture in these areas.

Look at formal educationand on-line, and communication process to consumers. Perhaps a similar blog could be produced and kept updated and linked to from local tourism web pages so visitors and residents can access local fare from micro breweries, to wineries, to restaurants that fully feature local, sustainably produced food.

When non-local food becomes less available, will we become more appreciative of the regional foods available to us - what can the forest and waterways produce?

Do Canadians want food sovereignty/food security?  

We are buying imported foods from China such as apple juice, whilst tearing down apple orchards in Niagara region. (One source says Canada imported 21.7 million litres of apple juice in 2006)

How much commitment would we have from consumers to support 100 mile diet?

People/consumers have the money to buy food, but are they willing to spend it?  It was possible in organic food...

A  complete 100 mile diet would be difficult but take a moderate approach.

Would have to change eating habits quite a bit - Kingston area would support meat. Ready-to-eat foods and restaurants are a large portion of consumer dollars.

It may be feasible for some, but whether everybody can do it? 

Marketing is very important - make local food sexy

What are the benefits?

Health benefits, energy sovereignty, community resilience, social impacts, etc. People become more aware of where food comes from.

Are we moving towards 'Victory Gardens' 

There are a lot of poor farm workers in low-income countries that will likely suffer.

If you have local in one area, you almost have to have local everywhere in order for it to work.

In a lot of low income countries they are exporting food that they should be eating.  If we were to go local, should pair this with advocacy against subsidies.

Growing your own food - does this take away from existing farmers' incomes?  If demand decreases, the farming is hurting. 

100 Mile Diet is a HUGE risk - no support from bankers, etc. 

Marketing boards are a part of the industrial, conventional system. If larger farms are going to adopt 100-mile diet, do we need local marketing boards.  CUrrently, milk is produced and distributed within Ontario.

Theoretically we CAN pursue 100 milke diet, but today's consumer demands won't be met by 100 mile diet.

BARRIERS FOR 100 MILE DIET

 - government regulations, etc.

-look at Vermont which is trying to become sovereign 

MEAT 

- where is meat from Loblaw's sold?  meat only comes from Federally inspected processing plants.  

 - How can we bring 100 mile diet into current discourse?

We should accept that there are some things that may come from outside the 100 mile diet - maybe we should call it the 90%  One Hundred Mile Diet.