I agree with JoAnne, with respect to the term value-added. A bunch
of us
wrote and performed a play on corporate hogs barns about ten years
ago. In
the play, we travelled to place called value-added (we'd been there
before).
Farmers are very cynical about value-added.
Jo Anne also makes a very important point about civic agriculture.
I am tired of apologizing to government and corporate agriculture,
because
the reason I farm is not first and foremost for the economics of
it. We are
becoming so indoctrinated that if "it doesn't make money it isn't
worthy."
Cheers, Sandy
-----Original Message-----
From: JoAnn Jaffe [mailto:joann.jaffe@HYPERION.CC.UREGINA.CA]
Sent: March 28, 2006 1:42 PM
To: 'Local Food Directory Project'
Subject: RE: [lofo List] 300 words for SAF Ag. Dev. Fund letter of
intent
Dear Darryl,
The following is an edited version of your work with some
questions. BTW, I
know some farmers/activists are very frustrated with the language of
"value-added," and I must say I have some sympathy with them given
how it's
been used by government and industry.
Right now this proposal reads substantially like a marketing
proposal, which
is ok if that is what you're thinking of doing. Perhaps there isn't
enough
space in 300 words to make it read otherwise. What I see missing is
that
critical component that identifies where the problem comes from and
therefore has some real insight into offering real alternatives.
The reason
Tom Lyson talks about civic agriculture is to be able to speak from
the
perspective that rural production is reciprocally embedded in the
fabric of
rural social, cultural, political, and economic life as opposed to
a purely
economic or market-oriented orientation.
A further, practical issue is that the consumer category includes
retailers
(including co-ops), restaurants, nursing homes, etc. whose
unwillingness/
inability to carry local produce has a significant impact on the
development
of a market for local foods. I think that if we always think of
consumers
and producers solely as individual actors we lose some of the
possibilities
and potentialities as well as a real understanding of some of the
barriers
to alternative systems.
Regards,
JoAnn
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Title:
Local Food as a Catalyst for Value-Added Industry Growth
Summary:
Saskatchewan is Canada's breadbasket, yet much of what we eat comes
from
outside the province. While some of this is inevitable, supply
chains, lack
of processing and diversified production, and consumption patterns
have
dampened Saskatchewan's potential to feed itself. The realities of
climate
change make the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions essential.
Transport
of processed food contributes significantly to emissions. Other
reasons to
favour locally grown and processed food are its potential
contribution to
economic development, jobs, community stability, food safety, just
treatment
of workers and humane treatment of animals. Local food production can
provide alternatives to bankruptcy for family farms. The success of
local
food initiatives around the world has proven their worth. This
project will
focus on the opportunities that local food provides for
Saskatchewan. In
particular, we will survey both consumers and producers to
understand the
priorities and issues of each group and find out the barriers to
increasing
local food production.*
One of the barriers already understood is information.** The
project will
construct a local food directory (on the worldwide web and in
print) that
will address consumer and producer issues. It will include geographic
information so consumers will know their distance from a local food
source.
The directory will help to connect consumers and producers in concrete
ways,*** so consumers will know how to incorporate local foods into
their
regular shopping. Opportunities for new businesses and value-added
industries can be identified based on consumers queries to the online
system. This information about existing demands can be used to target
industries to specific regions of the province to maximize
environmental and
economic gain for the province.*** Such a directory could also be
used to
spur the development of food-based destinations and tourism. Some
of the
barriers and issues identified by consumers and producers may not be
addressed by the local food directory itself. In these cases, an
analysis
of the issues and recommendations for action will be developed.
* Do you want to make a statement about conducting an inventory of
best
practices here or maybe here**?
***Unclear/I don't understand this.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-lofo@cs.uregina.ca [mailto:owner-lofo@cs.uregina.ca] On
Behalf
Of Daryl Hepting
Sent: March 28, 2006 11:21 AM
To: Local Food Directory Project
Subject: [lofo List] 300 words for SAF Ag. Dev. Fund letter of intent
Hi;
My apologies for the delay. Please have a look to see whether
this fits with our discussion. It is about 300 words (max for
the letter of intent form).
Best regards,
Daryl
--
Title:
Local Food as a Catalyst for Value-Added Industry Growth
Summary:
Saskatchewan produces so much of the world's food, yet much of what
we eat comes from outside the province. The realities of climate
change make the reduction greenhouse gas emissions essential. The
import of processed food is a leading source of these emissions.
There are other reasons to favour locally grown and processed food,
which include economic development, jobs, community stability, food
safety, just treatment of workers and humane treatment of animals.
Local food production can provide an alternative to the disappearing
family farm. The success of local food initiatives around the world
has proven their worth. This project will focus on the opportunities
that local food provides for Saskatchewan. In particular, we will
survey both consumers and producers to understand the priorities and
issues of each group and find out the barriers to increasing local
food production. One of the barriers already understood is
information. The project will construct a local food directory (on
the worldwide web and in print) that will be designed to address
consumer and producer issues. It will include geographic information
so consumers will know how far away is the local food source. The
directory will help to connect consumers and producers in concrete
ways, so consumers will know how to incorporate local foods into
their regular shopping. Opportunities for new businesses and value-
added industries can be identified based on consumers queries to the
online system. This information about existing demands can be used
to target industries to specific regions of the province to maximize
environmental and economic gain for the province. Such a directory
could also be used to spur the development of food-based destinations
and tourism. Some of the barriers and issues identified by consumers
and producers may not be addressed by the local food directory
itself. In these cases, an analysis of the issues and
recommendations for action will be developed.
--
Daryl H. Hepting, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor * Computer Science Department * CW 308.22
University of Regina * Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2
dhh@cs.uregina.ca * http://www.cs.uregina.ca/~hepting
tel: (306) 585-5210 * fax: (306) 585-4745
----
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lofo@cs.uregina.ca
----
The Local Food Directory Project Mailing List
lofo@cs.uregina.ca
----
The Local Food Directory Project Mailing List
lofo@cs.uregina.ca