The Local Food System

The Local Food movement in Metro Vancouver has grown to become a strong voice in recent years; built around the farmers markets, local growers have begun to take back markets which were once theirs, and  direct, trust based relationships have begun to grow between producer and consumer. The local food movement in the Metro region has engaged with international Fair Trade, domestic concern and local production, thanks to advocacy work that has arisen from both the non-profit sector as well as the different levels of government. At times the movement has been overly locally focused which has been detrimental as wider issues and policies now escape the movement, such as ethical procurement, for internationally sourced goods. Secondly due to much of BC’s “local food” now being grown and sold locally, many farmers have chosen to not get certified, as to sell as “Organic” at local markets does not require certification. This has meant however, that violations have occurred, while also limiting farmers to local markets only, as product would not otherwise we recognized as Organic elsewhere. Thirdly the local food movement has encouraged local production, but has not pursued local labour rights to the degree which is needed, as violations on the labour front in BC are now regularity. The local food movement is in its infancy, and will need to align with larger interests in the long term, if a unified food system is to be achieved. Those working to promote local food systems include:

• Farm Folk City Folk, which works on local farming initiatives and advocacy
• Eat Local which works to organize the farmers markets
• The Vancouver Food Policy Council, which works on the policy level with the city’s

The face of the “local” food movement in Metro Vancouver as well as Canada as a whole has begun to change however, with the creation of Local Food Plus (LFP). LFP has set out to challenge the issue within its wider context, as “from negative farm incomes, to greenhouse gas emissions, to urban sprawl, Canadian farmers and processors face a broad range of economic, environmental, and social challenges – challenges that are threatening the very existence of regional agriculture communities and food systems”. As such Local Food Plus has set out to build a “certification system that puts these economic, environmental and social issues at the forefront, where they belong. The LFP system addresses production, labour, native habitat preservation, animal welfare, and on-farm energy use, and leverages these standards to open new higher-value markets for Canadian farmers”.

Local Food Plus has attempted to:

Bridge the urban-rural divide by bringing farmers, processors, distributors, consumers, retailers, restaurants, and institutions of all sizes to the same table where they can share in shaping a more sustainable food system. Since launching in September 2006, LFP has become the leading certification standard for local sustainable food production in North America.

• To create a comprehensive and rigorous certification system which addresses production, labour, native habitat preservation, animal welfare, and on-farm energy use, and leverages these standards to open new higher-value markets for farmers and processors.
• Build a strong third party certified system with strong institutional procurement standards