Norm Macdonald MLA Columbia River – Revelstoke
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
October 15, 2009
MLA presented with new East Kootenay Local Food Guide
During a visit to the Columbia Valley Community Greenhouse, members of the local food action committee (CVFA) presented Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald with a new publication that promotes local food producers within the East Kootenay region.
Communities within the East Kootenay featured in the guide include Canal Flats, Invermere, Windermere, Radium, Edgewater, Spillimacheen, Fort Steele, Kimberley and Cranbrook.
“I’ve been really impressed by the work of this group,” said Macdonald. “I’ve watched as the dream of a community greenhouse has become a reality. And the development of this guide which will promote local growers is another significant step towards increasing our access to locally grown food.”
More than 85 local businesses and organizations are catalogued producing everything from grass-fed beef and poultry to honey to fruits and vegetables.
“I believe that there is a real desire in this area to choose foods that are produced closer to home, and the development of this guide will make it easier for consumers to find a wide selection of foods.
“I really appreciate the work of this group and others across the province that are working to keep food production and access to local foods in the public eye. People are really beginning to take notice of where their food comes from.
But it takes more than just public will to improve our access to local foods. The government has an important role to play in ensuring that local farmers and ranchers are supported.
“The BC Liberal government cancelled programs that promoted and supported BC growers and that is a mistake that needs to be corrected,” continued Macdonald. “And then we need to adopt progressive policies that will allow local producers to make a reasonable living producing food that will be consumed much closer to where it was grown.”
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