Canada's Organic Farmers Can't Keep Up With 'Slow Food' Demand

Demand for locally-grown food is increasing in Canada, but the number of organic growers has shown a national decline. A shortage of organic processing plants -- especially those used for meats -- is a limiting factor in the 'slow food' movement.

1 minute read

December 31, 2006, 1:00 PM PST

By Nate Berg

Business has been good at local farmer's markets throughout Canada, but the demand is greater than the country's few organic farmers can handle.

"In 2005, shoppers snapped up an average of $10,000 worth of edibles an hour at the bottle-necked bazaar in East Vancouver."

"The rising interest in eating local and eating healthy has to contend with a national decline in organic growers and a dependence on foreign food, according to a recently released Canadian Organic Growers report. The study showed that while demand for pesticide and GMO-free food is up 20 per cent a year in Canada, more than 90 per cent of organics come from the U.S. or overseas. Not only that, but the number of organic producers is actually declining in Canada."

"B.C., the nation's organic anomaly, showed 'strong growth' in 2005, according to the report's author, Anne Macey. But even though the number of organic farms in the province was up 9.5 per cent over 2004, it's unlikely that trend will continue."

FULL STORY: Slow Food's Growing Pains

Wednesday, December 27, 2006 in The Tyee

Social / Demographics Canada

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