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Bringing together individuals, organizations and
resources to foster community action
Local Foods Farmer/Food Buyer Speed Networking Event, March 31, 2009
London Community Resource Centre plays a role
The recent Local Foods Farmer/Food Buyer Speed Networking Event held at the Western Fair's Carousel Room, March 31,2009, was by all accounts an astounding success as more than 200 people attended and 68 vendors set up shop on display tables and kiosks in an effort to bring industry players together and solidify their shared desire to bring more locally-produced food to the tables of area consumers. Many who turned out for the inaugural event expressed a desire to have it become an annual occurence.
Photos by Ross McDermott, LCRC staff
The Local Foods Farmer/Food Buyer Speed Networking
Event, held March 31 at Western Fair’s Carousel Room,
brought together local farmers, food retailers and
restaurants in a speed-networking setting to solidify their
shared desire to sell locally-produced food.
The concept of the speed-networking event was
conceived during another local-food initiative– Local Food for
Local Tables Confernce – initiated by the London Community
Resource Centre (LCRC), and FoodNet Ontario, in November
of 2008. “It began with our desire to make connections with
the agricultural community,” said Linda Davies, Executive
Director, LCRC.
Held at Brescia University College the Local Foods for Local
Tables Conference looked to bring together organizations,
individuals, farmers, retailers and distributors to discuss
ways to bring locally grown food to consumers.
It also aimed at encouraging and facilitating local buying and growing of food and to promote
activities that would lead to the development of a food-system plan for the London region.
In collaboration with various key organizations involved in the Local Food for Local Tables
Conference, and through relationships built during the creation of the Get Fresh Eat Local Map, the
idea for the Local Foods Farmer/Food Buyer Speed Networking Event was born.
The success of the recent event was evident in the attendance of both vendors and buyers.
Approximately 200 people were in attendance and 68 local vendors displayed their wares in various
kiosks and booths, which were visited by food processors, retailers and chefs interested in catering
to those customers who have expressed an interest in purchasing local food – for health, quality
and environmental reasons.
The event not only featured strong networking opportunities for those involved in all aspects of the
agricultural and food industries, but through the words of a keynote speaker (John F. T. Scott,
President and CEO, The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers) and a four-member panel
(Florence Heeman of Heeman Greenhouses, Chef Wade Fitzgerald of Garlic’s of London, David
Morhart with John’s Fruits & Vegetables, Ted Soudant with Fieldgate Organics), all knowledgeable
players in the food sector, the issues and challenges facing the industry in relation to local foods
were also highlighted.
Hosted by Don Mills with Local Food Plus, a non-profit organization bringing farmers and consumers
together to share in the benefits of environmentally and socially responsible food production, the
Local Foods Farmer/Food Buyer Speed Networking Event was the first of its kind in the London
region and many in attendance expressed a desire to have it as an annual event.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend in society in general to be more aware and
supportive of the “Buy Local, Eat Fresh” ideology. Monika Rastapkevicus of R-Grow Farms, who
was a participant from the farming sector at the networking event, said she has seen a rise in public
awareness over the last five years.
“People are more conscious of where their food
is coming from, what products have been used on
their food and the nutritional value their food has,” she said,
“and they’re asking for these products both at the
farmgate and at the retail stores.”
She said the increasing consumer demand for Ontario-
grown food products is a positive inspiration to farmers.
*London Community Resource Centre collaborates with other organizations to create initial speed-networking concept
*Success of the meet and greet has participants calling for an annual speed-networking event
*Consumer awareness increasing in relation to “Buy Local Eat Fresh” ideology
*Value, not pricing, most important in consumers’ mind
*Health and nutrition go hand in hand with locally produced food
*Buying local products reduces environmental footprint
Networking, networking and more networking. That was the focus of the Local Food Farmers/Food Buyers Speed Networking Event
Juli Proracki with Round Plains Plantation (left), and Monika Rastapkevicus of R-Grow Farms, were side-by-side vendors during the meet-and-greet event.
From potatoes (above) to popcorn (below) there was plenty of Ontario produced food and products to be seen during the speed networking event.
Dollars and cents are one of the biggest challenges in getting Ontario consumers to buy local, Monika noted.
“Ultimately it’s pricing. With our global market everything can come in with a specific dollar value and
in this economic day and age people are trying to make their dollars stretch as far as possible. But
I’m hoping that nutritional value and knowing the origins of their food is going to trump that.”
Jeremy O’Shea, with O’Shea Farms, agreed that pricing is a big challenge for the Canadian farmer. He pointed
south of the border where U.S. farmers receive government subsidies. “They have so many subsidies
for farmers where the Canadian farmers do not. So, even before they go to field they’re kind of
making money down there.”
Many Canadian-produce farmers are weather-dependent, with only six to eight months
to make their money – “so financially it’s always going to be tough,” he said.
Jeremy also noted Third-World countries where the agricultural industries take advantage of free
or cheap labour to produce food. “That’s tough to compete with.”
However, Jeremy echoed Monika’s sentiment regarding the origin and methods used to grow
imported food. “You’ve got to wonder what’s in it,” Jeremy said. “I remember a friend of ours
visited a strawberry farm in Mexico and saw them irrigating with grey water
right out of an open ditch.” Canada’s food is the safest in the world, he continued.
“We have the strictest regulations on our food and it’s better than anything that’s
coming in across the border.”
Jeremy O'Shea of O'Shea Farms stressed the importance of raising consumer awareness in relation to locally-grown and produced foods.
Keynote speaker John F. T. Scott, President and CEO of the Canadian Independent Grocers, pointed to
four main aspects on the minds of Canadian consumers when buying food: value, sustainability,
discretionary purchases and “better view products.”
Consumers are changing their buying habits and the economy is taking them out of sit-down
restaurants and into the supermarket, he said. “Consumers are embracing something called value, not
necessarily pricing.” But despite the economy they are, more than ever, reading the labels and looking
for products that are healthier for them and their families (better view products).
“Consumers, despite hardships, continue to embrace sustainability and worry about the environment,”
John said.
Panellist Florence Heeman, with Heeman Greenhouses, said food safety and food freshness is very
important to area consumers, but environmental impacts should also rank high when making a
purchase. “Purchasing foods that can be grown locally is a major reduction
on your environmental footprint,” she said.
Jeremy O’Shea said he has done plenty of research into the environmental
impacts associated with food purchases.
“Ten litres of orange juice uses one litre of diesel fuel to travel here.
When you see facts like that you get kind of scared.”
Panellist Wade Fitzgerald, Chef at Garlic’s of London,
said his restaurant tries to use as much local food on its menu as possible,
and the menu changes from month to month.
“The product is superior and reasonably priced,” he said,
however, due to the diversity in weather –
“there is more than four seasons in Canada.” – there exists a challenge in the availability of fresh
produce.
Delivery is also a challenge.
“But opportunities outweigh the challenges,” Wade said.
John F. T. Scott, President and CEO of the Canadian Independent Grocers, was the keynote speaker during the speed networking event.
Florence Heeman, with Heeman Greenhouses, was one of four panelists speaking during the meet and greet.
Garlic's of London Chef Wade Fitzpatrick speaks to those in attendance at the speed networking event.
