At Last!

As a consumer in this country and a female, I have despaired for years, about the attitude in agriculture over "what consumers really want". I was shot down time and time again by a mostly male dominated industry, who were convinced the only issue was price!!!!

But if any of them had taken the time to wade thought the confusion of misleading labels, the ridiculous "made in Canada" labelling guidelines, or try to find Canadian grown "anything" in food products, perhaps something would have happened sooner.

Our consumers represent a vast, untapped resource to support what agriculture is trying to do when it fights to save processing, ensure Canadian ingredients, save farm land, fruit farms, ensure Canadian ingredients in cheese or what-ever!

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture has finally taken some action on this issue. They commissioned a poll to find out what consumers would do or not do and what they wanted.

Some of the results:

95 per cent said they would buy Canadian products that are competitively priced and of equal or better quality to imported.

90 per cent felt Canadian agricultural products should always be easy to identify at the store.

83 per cent felt a branding system based on three criteria - grown in Canada, produced to high environmental and food safety standards, and providing a fair return to farmers – is a good or a very good concept.

46-50 per cent of consumers were willing to pay premiums for “labeled” fruits, vegetables, poultry, beef, pork and grain products.

Canadian processors are disappearing faster than you can say 'gone". We are losing 'pick your own' farms. If someone doesn't do something soon, even those of us who want to, will be hard pressed to find fresh, local, anything, without going to extra-ordinary means. Many time crunched consumers will be unable to afford the time to do this. I believe it has to be available in our grocery stores or we are lost.

Get going guys before it's too late for us all.

They are At IT Again!!!

It's time again for the annual Doha Round emergence of Right Wing extreme editorial comments! I can't believe I missed this one! Neil Reynolds, writing for Report on Business has come up with another editorial that targets dairy farmers and their system of supply management.

This one is entitled: "Make dairy farmers an offer they can't refuse" June 15, 2007. Reading through the article just makes me very angry. Many of the same old assumptions about the industry are rife, through-out. Not only doesn't he 'get it' about supply management ...... he doesn't 'get it' about the whole issue of the dangers surrounding imported foods, period.

The best way to protect consumers is to continue to support domestic food production and a decent standard of living for domestic farmers!

'Save the Doha round'.... indeed. If Canada is stupid enough to even consider this, with what has been happening lately and the eye opening scandal around imported foods, we are doomed.

But with ideas out there to 'integrate' North America.... it would be a good way to even that playing field in a hurry. Simply apply the New Zealand model asap and you are set.

God save us all from fools and economists. -CG

A Ray of Hope?

Just as I was thinking there was nothing happening out there, something appeared on the CBC. The story was good but in my mind, anyway, it needs to be developed and expanded further.

As much as I love the CBC, you haven't really made the news until all National media are putting forward their own elements of the same story.

After all, it is the consumer here, who is being hosed over "made in Canada" labeling and the food processors who are buying that 'least cost' stuff from China. The food retail industry is also not without blame. Their drive for higher profits and lower cost suppliers is all part of the package. Since they purchase much of their fresh stuff from the 'Food Terminal', they are the problem here, in spades!

See 'Product of Canada' labels misleading, consumer group says

Check out the video cast under "related stories" for the full CBC National story from Monday, June 12, 2007.


In the meantime, consumers are still being exposed to risks and the 'Made in Canada' label is worse than useless.

Time for Dairy Farmers of Canada to put some real media weight behind efforts to educate their consumers. As one of the few farm organizations with a large media budget this opportunity needs to become full blown.



The proposed new standards for cheese are also part of this story. I fail to see why processors do not understand how the "China" issue affects them too. They are also missing an opportunity to get media buzz by voluntarily offering to comply for the benefit of their consumers. This would definitely be newsworthy and garner millions in free publicity. They could even list those cheeses they would be applying these new standards to.

Instead, they are locked in a battle to keep their cheap products and put all of us at risk.-CG

Agriculture is missing this boat!

I just cannot resist hammering this message home. Farmers just do not understand how to get their message out there!!! They have been so quiet on this issue it is almost embarrassing! With all the hoopla regarding China,the time has never been better to expose more of the imported food issue, to the public. Along with it, major media attention is theirs for the asking!!!!

The industry has always struggled to be relevant. This is relevance with a vengeance. While Canadians were busy doing their thing, the food processing industry in this country has headed for cheaper pastures. Canadian consumers will not soon forget this one. Farmers had better make sure they don't!

Along with that, governments had better get the message that they are part of this problem and they cannot abdicate their responsibilities in the matter.

If you do not believe that farmers and their organizations are missing this boat just have a look at this sample of head lines from the past two weeks alone. -CG

Consumers hungry for locally grown food, struggling Loblaws told

Food import tests sought Former federal agriculture minister Ralph Ferguson is leading a campaign for such tests.

Bringing country food to city-Two groundbreaking new farmers' markets in Toronto prove that local really is the new organic

You can practically smell the good Ontario earth
With the opening of Liberty Village market under the FMO seal of approval, you can trust your produce is grown locally

Seafood imports from China raised in untreated sewage Fish products consumed by Americans treated with dangerous drugs, chemicals

Chinese authorities investigate sale of fake blood protein to hospitals

Is the Food Fight Flourishing or Floundering?

When I spoke about the "Golden Opportunity" available for dairy farmers, I wasn't alone in my thinking. The recent week has provided a HUGE number of related news stories surrounding the issue of tainted food AND the concept of Local food.

I am impressed that it seems some action is taking place. But on this exploding issue, I have not seen anything in the media about the labelling and proposed, new regulations for cheese. That is not good. I sure hope dairy farmers are taking advantage of this window of opportunity, while it lasts!

There is a lot at stake. Much more than even I thought. We met with friends this week, who happen to live in Stoney Creek. (That is part and parcel of the Hamilton-Niagara belt, home to millions of people.) My friend has been subjected to my wrath about the whole China import issue as it pertains to our food. I wasn't sure she was listening. It turns out she was!

At a recent gathering of professional women, the issue of the cost of fresh local food came up. The subject was asparagus but it could have been any food grown in this country.

Apparently, for much of the winter asparagus was available, imported from the USA and Mexico for $1.49 a lb. The first local asparagus has hit the stores and the price is $2.79 a lb.! This is what generated the discussion she related to me.

So, as the discussion continued, my now very educated friend stated support for the locally grown asparagus, even with it's current price. She also told the other women her reasons ( food safety and not from this country). The conversation then turned to labelling and it turns out that NONE of those women had a clue about Made in Canada!!!! They thought that the "China" label on some frozen vegetables meant the plastic wrapper! I remind you all, that these are well educated, intelligent women. I knew the problem was bad but this blew me away.

Labelling and made in Canada regulations and import labels are obviously not well understood!

I rest my case. If the government can't/won't educate consumers, farmer MUST! It is imperative or they will drown under the imported products coming from other countries.

This also speaks to the issue of labelling for cheese. Dairy farmers must educate their consumers or they will not succeed with their battle on labels and regulations. There must be some profile to this or the message will NOT get out there.

How about fighting fire with fire? The processors have sent an 'open' letter to the Minister. Dairy farmers should emulate them and go one better... a simple, clear cut ad explaining to the public "why" they need this too!

Golden Opportunity Part II ????

I wrote the previous article about 5 days ago. My delay in publishing it has allowed events to over take this article but in an even MORE timely way! I feel very strongly about this issue and see the recent events as a way to make the concerns of supply management, the same concerns the public SHOULD have.

Clever marketing people or a good PR Firm should be able to package this stuff in a way to make the media and the public sit up and take NOTICE!!!!

Don't think I'm on the right track?

Take a look at these headlines AND articles from the last few days:

Environment Hamilton starts program to support area farmers, protect Ontario's Greenbelt

Chinese workers admit lacing pet food

China arrests food managers

Food Safety at issue, local farming praised (Panel of experts stresses need for more locally grown, organic products in U.S. food supply)

Farmed Fish Fed Tainted Meal Same contaminate prompted pet food recall

120 fish farms sent contaminated feed

States Introduce Bill to Support Local Food Systems

U.S. legislators could side-swipe Canada with measures to protect food supply

U.S. puts Canada in firing line after food safety scare

Toxic Dyes and Preservatives Are Often Key Ingredients; Export Worries Widen

Nutrition Labels Not Accurate, Researcher Says

Shanghai to use mobile tests in food- safety blitz

Certainly the level of interest AND concern has gone way, way up. The story keeps on getting wider and other issues, including those important to dairy farmers, need to be connected to this widening public concern.

This week's Ontario Farmer had an another article that should be of interest to the public!

"Cheesed Off" Campaign launched against new cheese regs- Francis Anderson. The Dairy Processors Association of Canada (DPAC) is beginning a high profile battle against changes to the regs. This is just another side of the same food safety coin, as far as I am concerned. I WANT to know where it's from and what it is, if it is going into my food!

I do not believe that THIS TIME, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), should let sleeping dogs lie.

DFC is the organization for producers who DO market milk! Research has shown they (farmers) are considered to be MORE trust worhty than business (processors or importers). They do take principled stands (BSE). The public needs to hear their voice on this issue!

Millions of dollars in free PR could be theirs for the taking, to advance "made in Canada" labeling and 100% Canadian dairy products. I have never seen a climate so perfect to raise the spectre of 'free trade" and it's ultimate impact for farmers and the public, than this one. -CG

Golden Opportunitiy For Dairy Farmers??

The recent pet food poisoning disaster has provided agriculture with a GOLDEN opportunity!! Every farm organization should be monitoring the news reports and finding ways to plug in.

I am blown away by the fact it was the death of pets that broke the story! Major food recalls and human illness has NOT exploded into the media like this story has. Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that the company imported something they could have bought in North America, that started it all.

Certainly, the almost daily exposure of the widening product list that was tainted with melamine is part of the issue. Articles and news stories about the government and the CFIA are starting to hit the air ways as well. Just last week, CTV had a major story about the issue and touched on the CFIA , the lack of standards for imported product and the fact that Canadian farmers must adhere to a higher standard for domestic food than imports from other countries.

This issue has been upsetting farmers for a long time. Every time the government has been questioned about this glaring in-equity, responses have been luke warm, at best. "Equivalency standards" for imported food has never been good enough, in the view of farmers. The public, however, did NOT understand this part of the issue and agriculture never seemed to be able to or want get that message out there!

A quick check of news stories on the CTV site brings up a lot of stuff, including some 'Special Reports' in the works. The subject matter is Food Safety and Food Security!

Since Dairy Farmers of Canada has been discussing this issue and trying to focus the political interest on this important topic, they need to start talking to CTV asap!

Currently, CTV is focusing on the 'Local" food movement and one man's attempt to inform Canadians about this issue. More needs to be done with the groups that represent farmers and the importance of keeping Canadian farmers viable in Canada, the crisis in some industries, the problems with the border and imports like MCP.

Milk Protein Concentrate (MCP) is in a dry form and so was wheat gluten. Without confirmation of sources, labelling laws, appropriate tariffs and standards, no one can confirm what this stuff is, in ice cream, cheese and who knows what else. The issue could & should receive front and centre media coverage.

After all, the pet food mess is all about consumer education and understanding of the problems ultimately involved with free trade. The cheapest source can have a cost people are not willing to pay.

The government reacts to public pressure and anything that will raise that bar, right now, is critical.

For more articles about this important issue, see Dariblawg del.icio.us