What Can a Consumer DO!!!??

There's no doubt about it. The food processors in this country have done the consumers of Canada the greatest dis-service ever. I have more than a little knowledge when it comes to identifying Canada sourced food in the grocery stores. But it looks like not only have our processors run off to Asia, our regulators have made the "Made in Canada" label a joke and worst than useless!

In conversations with consumers (that means 'shoppers' boys) everywhere, the topic comes up. People are frustrated and angry that their ability to make choices on the food available in their grocery stores, has been taken away from them.

I feel qualified to find good local, fresh foods now, when they are plentiful and real farmers markets are supplying a wonderful array of fresh locally grown vegetables and fruit.

I am very concerned that this winter I will have no choices that provide any comfort about my family's food sources.

I do believe that customers of these large retailers will leave in droves. They are only buying now because no sources with good labelling are readily available but I believe that the demand is there and it is growing.

Consumers don't complain about things in stores like they should, they leave and find alternate sources for their food. THIS is what is behind the growing demand for organic foods. I know that I can go to small organic stores and find local Canadian foods all year. If I have to this is what I will do.

Now, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has handed the Organic movement the single thing it needs to equate quality and CANADIAN with a label. Oh, and they have helped publicized it to boot! Where does this leave the 'other' farmers in this country?

As a group, they have been asking Ag Canada to develop a label or regulations to identify grown in Canada foods for a long time. The government continually avoids this final step because they believe they will hit the trade barrier wall with anything that smacks of Country of Origin Labels!

Why was this not the case for Organic foods which are being imported at an unprecedented pace? The new Certified Canadian Organic label will definitely act as a country of origin barrier to many imported food items.

I saw a commercial for Natrel Milk the other evening and flashed on the screen at the beginning is the statement: "Natrel milk does not contain rBSt or anti-biotics like all milk produced in Canada".

As a consumer education effort it is a baby step, but someone out there understands what I do. Food shoppers are avoiding products when they cannot identify them as Canadian and we better give them the tools in a hurry, before their hard won confidence in our food products is lost.

They do not know that the majority of milk is produced and processed here. Better tell them quick. I can't think of a better use for the blue cow... but boy, you'd better back that up with some fast, high profile info to educate them.