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Food Freedom Day – it’s not just another meal (2012)
Food Freedom Day – it’s not just another meal
By Keith Currie, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Few Canadians give their daily food a lot of thought, that’s why on Sunday February 12, Food Freedom Day provides us with the perfect occasion to celebrate what we eat and the farmers who produce our food.
Designated by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Food Freedom Day marks the calendar date when the average Canadian will have earned enough income to pay the entire year’s grocery bill. Canadians enjoy one of the lowest-cost “food baskets” in the world. As a comparison, Food Freedom Day in Iceland is in late February, while in Mexico it doesn’t come until early March.
Canadians enjoy healthy, nutritious and inexpensive food every day, something we should be celebrating more often. In fact, according to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadians only spent 11.8 per cent of their disposable income on food in 2011. By comparison, France spent 13.5 per cent of their disposable income to buy food and Japan spent 14.2 per cent. This data highlights just how important Canadians’ food decisions are to our nation’s economic future. Canadian farmers are producing food that is safe, secure affordable and highest quality.
As Ontario farmers, we take our job of providing food seriously. That’s why, on Food Freedom Day we also raise the importance of securing a sustainable food system to ensure that we continue celebrating this day year after year. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is working closely with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to develop and implement the National Food Strategy – a long-term approach to ensure a safe supply of Canadian food for future generations. Currently being presented to both provincial and federal governments for consideration, the National Food Strategy establishes a shared strategic vision for our food system that will serve as a clear guide for public policy development and private decision making to secure a sustainable food system for Canada. This vision is outlined in nine strategic objectives that our food system must meet to serve the needs of future generations in Canada as well as the global community.
The National Food Strategy’s objectives and outcomes encompass all aspects of the food value chain – from farmers and processors to distributors and retailers. These objectives include making Canadian grown and processed products the first choice for Canadians, ensuring consumers always have access to safe and nutritious food, to positioning Canadian products as the preferred choice of international markets. For more information on the National Food Strategy and details on the objectives visit nationalfoodstrategy.ca.
On February 12th, take the time to consider where your food comes from, the value of the meal you are enjoying and the quality of food future generations of Canadians will be enjoying on Food Freedom Day. From our farm families to yours, thank you for your role in Canada’s Food Freedom Day!
Comments
susan says on February 10, 2012 at 5:28 PM
To really see if this works it would be nice if everyone who thinks and participates in this day were given the opportunity to e-mail or phone in to say what they ate and where it came from:
example: Breakfast: Ontario eggs
Ontario hormone and drug free bacon - note that in many cases a consumer may purchase Cabada AAA beef, but that does not mean it came from Canada, so that also needs to be addressed
Quebec Butter
Ontario Milk
Apple Juice from Ontario
Coffee - out of country
Sweetener for the coffee - Ontario honey
etc., etc., etc.
also at this time of the year, it might be difficult to have a sald that is Canadian, but it would be good to have this day possibly inthe middle of summer when more Canadian fruits and vegetables are available.
I think youhave to go a long way yet in order to have a Canada Food Day as products are so badly labelled that the ordinary consumer does not even realize that they are eating food that is only packaged in Canada, but does not come from Canadian farmers.
karl chittka says on February 24, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Having participated in handing out the message about Food Freedom Day for the last 3 years in my area and agreeing that food in Ontario is cheap in comparision to other coutries I find it difficult to explain how these figures are arrived at especially when ask by people [ seniors] on fixed income or working at minimum wages also the term Average Cannadian is questioned often. Having the above term more defined would be a great help for voluteers taking the time tohand out the cards
Karl Am I average or what ?
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