Organic farming in B.C.
My husband and I buy most of our food locally from organic producers. We are delighted to be able to access good food and to support those who produce it for us. I’m always on the lookout for information about the growth of organic farming in my province and the good news is that organic farming is booming in B.C.
According to figures released [May 16] by Statistics Canada, there are more organic farms in B.C. than anywhere else in the country, and more women farmers. Nearly one in six farms in B.C. - 16.3 per cent of all provincial operations - now sell organic fruit, vegetables or meat, well above the national average of 6.8 per cent.
The census also showed that B.C. has the greatest number of women working on farms - 36.5 per cent of all farm operators compared to 27.8 per cent nationwide, and that over the past five years, the amount of land devoted to farms in B.C. increased by 9.6 per cent - the largest increase in the country. The regions of the province with the biggest increases in farmland were the Thompson-Nicola (26.7 per cent), Cariboo (18.7 per cent) and Fraser Valley (16.3 per cent). -> Full article
Jun 24th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Very interesting…and you’re lucky to have access to such resources! Why is BC the leader in organic farming? Climate?
Jun 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I’m not sure that climate is the only factor. It seems to me that people here are very aware of food contamination issues and very much inclined to support local organic growers.
What I notice in the small west coast Canadian community where I live is:
(1) an increased fear factor re: food contaminants;
(2) an increase in purchase of organically grown, locally produced food at the farm gate and at farmer’s markets;
(3) an increased interest in gardening, freezing and canning;
(4) an increased interest in home cooking, exchange of recipes, jam and juice making and potluck parties;
(5) an increase in raw food vegetable and fruit snacks and home baked goods in bagged lunches;
(6) an increase in fruit juices and decreased interest in high energy and caffeine containing beverages;
(7) a decreased reliance on processed and packaged food;
(8) more people shunning plastic bags and using their own fabric bags when shopping;
(9) more men shopping at farmer’s markets and in grocery stores.
The age group I see making these changes are young parents and middle aged couples. In terms of the majority, I witness that most people are still caught in processed food and junk food the trap.
Jun 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I see some of that here in New England too and actually began seeing some of these changes in the 1970’s (back to nature, everyone!).
What I see most now is a definite correlation between the above and income/education. Not surprising, really, but when I see people who obviously have the means to eat better load their carts with Mountain Dew, potato chips, Little Debbie snack cakes and frozen pizza I just want to weep. Oh, yes, and Cool Whip. Can’t forget the Cool Whip.
Jun 26th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
I llive on a small rural island populated by many people of the 70’s who are back to the land, organic types. My island has grown to become an artists’ community. Most eat real food.
Sigh .. we do have those kind of people here who can afford to eat well but chose to eat crap. They buy high energy drinks, chips, frozen pizza pops and yes, cool whip {shudder}. Cool whip is in fridges all over north america.
We are ovo-lacto vegetarians. We do not eat cool whip, margarine or the like. We do eat high quality dairy products, butter, cheeses and eggs (chicken and duck).