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We're becoming locavores I'm becoming more and more concerned about the state of our food. I hear about the `100-mile diets', which advocates eating locally-grown food (within a 100-mile radius), and the more I hear, the more I'm becoming a believer. People of that mindset are locavores, in other words, they strive to eat locally-grown food. And I'm being drawn to their side. A friend of mine sends me emails about anything and everything-- most often a bit off-coloured. But lately, he forwarded a link to a short video which made me stop and think. Sponsored by Hellmann's (the mayonnaise people) this video explains how the state of food production in Canada, especially in Ontario, is becoming so import-driven that we will soon become so dependent on imports that our local producers will simply shrivel up and die. Some of the figures quoted are quite sobering. For example, we import 53 per cent of our vegetables, and 93 per cent of our fruits. In the past 40 years, our red meat imports have increased by 600 per cent, yet our population has only increased by 15 per cent. There are other facts and figures stated, like Nova Scotia's 2007 blueberry production was one-half of what it was four years earlier. In 2004, Alberta, imported $170 million in vegetables, yet exported a mere $400,000. Even Ontario, considered to be the prime vegetable-producing area in Canada, imports $4 billion more than it exports. The video sends out a message, not only regarding the costs of imported foods, but also the fact that buying imported foods also affects local producers' income. The family farm is fast disappearing, as the players cannot afford to compete with the cheaper imported foods. Development in the GTA isn't helping. In the second half of the 20th century, Central Ontario lost more than 50 per cent of it's farmland, to accommodate the housing and industrial expansion of the GTA. I stopped buying imported vegetables years ago. If it comes from some South American country, I simply VËSave $200ˬ±¬±ËË0Á?Ä?ÍË ?WË0ÖÁÄËÍË France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain or Turkey 7 Save up to $400 per couple! The IFP · Halton Hills, Thursday, March 8, 2012 EUROPE EARLY BOOKING BONUS Ted Brown won't buy it. Those countries have very few restrictions on pesticide and herbicide use, compared to that grown by our American neighbours and our own local producers. The bottom line-- I refuse to eat chemical-laden vegetables. Another point: imported fruits and vegetables are picked weeks in advance of being shipped so they can look their best by the time they land in Canada, whereas locally-grown foods are in the stores within hours or days of being picked. The Hellmann's video culminates with the message to visit their website at www.realfoodmovement.ca to search out local producers and various other info about buying locally. The video can be seen on You Tube by searching Hellmann's food commercial. On our own home front, The Sidekick and I are contemplating raising some animals to be slaughtered for our own consumption. In doing so, we would not only have cheaper meat, but would know exactly what its been fed. So The Sidekick and I are becoming locavores. We're not restricting ourselves to a 100-mile diet scenario, but we will strive to buy produce grown within Ontario. It's not too late to take action. In spite of the fact that family farms are dwindling, if a respectable market is there, the family players will return to the farms. Before buying it, take a look at that label in the grocery store. Take a look at the country of origin. If it's not Canada, put it back on the shelf and buy locally. In doing so, that action will serve a dual purpose. It will send a message to the grocery stores. And more importantly, it will help several dwindling businesses in rural Canada. VËSave $100ˬ±¬±Ëˬ?W?~jÄËÍËGreece or the United KingdomË?aË.?ÜjËg¤ååˬjÁˬjÁÄ VËSave $50ˬ±¬±Ëˬ?W?~jÄËÍËBelgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands or Turkey Georgetown $200 savings must be booked 60 days prior to departure. Valid on new bookings only. Offer is applicable to Transat Holidays brochure package product. Space is subject to availability at time of booking. Valid on individual bookings only, not applicable to groups. Not applicable on air only, land only, F .I.T. or cruise bookings. Valid for bookings made between February 11 ­ April 2, 2012 for departures April 1 ­ June 30 2012. 905-873-2000 328 Guelph St. Georgetown, ON TICO Reg #50018501 Open Saturdays 9am - 4pm w w w. v i s i o n 2 0 0 0 t r a v e l . c o m Georgetown District Seniors Centre 318 Guelph Street (rear of building) 905-877-6444 Annual General Meeting Thursday, March 29, 2012 ~ 1:00 pm Please plan to attend this important meeting and hear what your Centre has accomplished in 2011. Elections will be held for vacant positions on the Board of Directors. Lunch will be available for purchase. of the week Across 1. Clan chief in medieval Scotland 6. Warms up 11. Big wine holder 14. Cliffside dwelling 15. Beau 16. "___ Maria" 17. Quality of being drawn out 19. Fold, spindle or mutilate 20. "Not to mention ..." 21. Bumpkin 22. "Wheel of Fortune" choice 23. Deception 25. Shrinks back in fear 27. Condition sometimes treated by hypnosis 32. Part of BYO 33. ___-eyed 34. Hairy-chested 36. ___ manual 39. ___ orange 41. Bar order 42. Riot 43. Discover 44. 3 feet (pl.) 46. Absorbed, as a cost 47. Astronaut's insignia 49. Being in low spirits 51. Shipping hazard 54. Anger 55. "___ for the poor" 56. ___ terrier 59. Bags 63. ___ juice (milk) 64. Retort at end of a heated discussion 66. Blackout 67. Extra 68. Bullwinkle, e.g. 69. Mamie's man 70. League members 71. Assignation Down 1. Standard monetary unit of Samoa 2. Command to a dog 3. Coastal raptors Town extends tax exemptions for legions The Town is giving the two local legions a tax exemption for their lands and buildings for the next 10 years. Halton Hills Council approved the exemption at a recent meeting. It's been given since 1998. The exemption by the Town and Region for the Acton Legion is $18,490/year and for the Georgetown Legion, $2,880/ year. Both Oakville and Burlington exempts its legions, but Milton does not. Council also approved an amendment by Wards 1&2 Regional Councillor Clark Somerville calling on the Provincial government to exempt all legions in Ontario and then the Province pay back to the municipalities a payment in lieu of taxes. The Town then would receive the $20,000 as payment in lieu of taxes, Somerville said. He said this would help some of smaller legions that are financially struggling. --By Cynthia Gamble, staff writer 4. Man hired as an escort 5. After expenses 6. Beethoven's "Archduke ___" 7. Wild goose sound 8. Ruler in Arabia 9. Founder of Methodism 10. "Help!" 11. Animal that feeds on blood of birds and mammals 12. Be of use 13. Graceful fliers 18. Howler 22. Lush 24. Huge 26. A swift horse 27. "American ___" 28. Barely beat, with "out" 29. Marine polyp that resembles a flower 30. Gross 31. Up, in a way 35. Shrek, e.g. 37. Network of intersecting blood vessels 38. Coaster 40. Snatches 45. Invisible spirit appearing in human or animal form (Muslim) 48. Game keeper? 50. Bleep out 51. Poets' feet 52. Disguise 53. Largest lake in northern Italy 57. Any thing 58. Clears 60. Call to a mate 61. Big cheese 62. "Let it stand" 64. Congratulations, of a sort 65. Clock standard (abbrev.) Look for the answer to this week's puzzle at (3 Adamson Street) at the corner of Winston Churchill & Hwy 7, www.carpetpalace.ca Norval 905-873-7955