Local and Sustainable Food Systems
Industrial agriculture is part of the increasingly integrated corporate food chain that ends with the big grocery chains such as Sobey, Loblaws, Safeway and Walmart. Local food from non-factory farmed sources is often very difficult for consumers to find in these supermarkets. As a result, the local food movement is developing alternative institutions and structures for connecting producers with consumers, to improve access and to provide fair prices at both ends of the transaction. For information on local food systems, opportunities and impediments, the following links may be of interest:
- The Manitoba Food Charter emerged from Manitobans' common vision for a just and sustainable food system.
- Manitoba Agricultural Renewal Alliance: Annual Conference proceedings documents
- Manitoba Alternative: Food Production and Farm Marketing Models 2004 (pdf)
- The Harvest Moon Society envisions a world in which healthy land and communities are celebrated by all, leading to equitable food systems, a sense of place, and care for the environment now and in generations to come.
- Fort Whyte Farms: Growing youth, food and community
Some local and alternative food system components are:
- Farmers Markets, U-pick, Roadside Stands, Market Gardens
- Regional Cuisine
- Manitoba Meat Buyers Guide
- Buy Manitoba
- Organic Food Delivery System
- Organic Food Directory
- 100 mile Manitoba Diet
- Winnipeg Humane Society Certified
- Ethical Food Market
- Eat Well Guide
- New Produce and Local Recipes
- Winnipeg's Online Organic Store
- www.manitobafarmersmarkets.ca
- Prairie Roots Garden and CSA
- Blue Lagoon Organics CSA