When
we talk about food and food systems, one important issue that often
arises is the conflict between trying to provide healthy and sustainable
food at an affordable price and ensuring a fair income for the farmers
that grow our food. This conflict is equally important in the Ontario
ethno-cultural vegetable market. While many Ontario farmers express
interest in growing these vegetables they need to ensure that this
venture will be financially sustainable for them. This is important
because while there is a great deal of consumption of these vegetables
not everyone can afford to pay a premium for Ontario ECV.
Good
Food Boxes are one strategy which has attempted to deal with this
conflict in the wider vegetable market. These not-for-profit programs
that exist in many Ontario towns (including Guelph, Toronto, Ottawa),
create an enabling environment for the consumption of vegetables. They
provide weekly or bi-weekly boxes of fresh (and local when possible)
vegetables for families and individuals at a reasonable cost. These
initiatives work to increase access to fresh food, support local
farmers, and reduce food insecurity. In the interest of reducing food insecurity, many of these programs target new Canadians and low income Canadians.
As a
consumer of Good Food Boxes, I know that many of these programs like to
include at least one different or feature vegetable in each box. The
goal of this often seems to be to encourage consumers to try new things
and learn new recipes. These programs, therefore, certainly have
potential to be an important market for Ontario grown ethno-cultural
vegetables. In Toronto, for example, last year Food Share distributed
some of the vegetables grown by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
in their Good Food Boxes (Food Share, 2012). In past ECV Ontario
research, we have discovered that some farmers face difficulties in
finding reliable markets for their ECV produce. It seems that this may
be an important opportunity for growers of ECV to explore (if they
aren’t already!).
Food Share (2012). Exotic vegetables coming soon from a farmer near you. Retrieved from http://www.foodshare.net/media_archive231.htm
.
Frances Dietrich-O’Connor, MSc Candidate
ECVOntario
SEDRD, University of Guelph