It’s true… communities nowadays are taking control of food by reclaiming the sources of production and the way they think about local menus. This at a time when large grocery chains throughout Canada, such as Loblaws and Metro are reporting record profits. Oftentimes, these trends are contingent on cheap imports at the expense of locally sourced, seasonal food options.
One group that prioritizes eco-consumer consciousness and local food options is Choices Markets of Vancouver, who’s recently released their first cookbook, “A Local Table”, maintaining a focus on local food options. The launch happens this Saturday, November 21st, and is sure to offer lots of free food samples, live food demonstrations, and give-aways. Event details can be found here.
Free local food, yum… it begs the question, how can financially accessible, locally-sourced, sustainably produced food be a mainstay of community culture?
The urban landscape, of course, provides countless opportunities for farming the food that ends up on our table. Backyard beds and community gardens are starting to take deeper root. Another free food event this Saturday, albeit one with a slightly more holistic approach, is the Community Garden Action Planning Day hosted by the Community Garden Network in Toronto.
If you’re involved in similar projects to this one, or would like to be, check out CitizenShift’s new dossier in development, CEMENT ROOTS. It’s a forum to exchange ideas and share media around urban agriculture. Reversing the idiom, it’s ‘thought for food’..and we want to hear what’s on your mind.
