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Halton's farms not on list of Region's suppliers By Tim Foran CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Halton Region will bring its food purchas- es closer to home, but not quite from its own backyard. The municipality has announced it plans to buy a minimum of 10 per cent of the food for its cafeteria from Ontario farms certified as sustainable, with that percentage scaling up to 25 per cent in future years, if possible. A non-profit agency in Toronto, Local Food Plus, will provide the sustainably- grown food from its list of certified farmers and processors, the Region stated in a recent press release. However, none of the suppliers certified by LFP are located in Halton. Lorenz Eppinger, owner of Greenfields Organic Farm in Campbellville, described it as "a sad state" that suitable local farmers cant be identified by Halton except through an agency like LFP He said thats probably due to the fact the Region doesn't buy its own food but out- sources food services to a contractor. Other local farmers, however, described Halton's decision to purchase provincially- grown food as a step in the right direction. "Its something the Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee (HAAC) has been ask- ing for for a while, so the fact that its hap- pening is great," said HAAC member and Campbellville farmer Peter Lambrick. "Whether or not those farmers are specif- ically in Halton - it would be nice if they were - but the fact that it is Ontario pro- duce instead of stuff that is coming in from offshore, be that the southrn (United) States or Chile or other countries, we feel we're still helping the situation of local farmers." Paul Bousfield, who grows certified organ- ic apples on his familys farm near Derry Road and Bell School Line, said the Regions decision is a good start. "It does help when you start to have the institutional (sector) look at buying locally grown (food)." Bousfield said he has been thinking about becoming certified as sustainable by Local Food Plus, which would then open the door to his farm becoming a supplier to Halton. Thats the attitude LFP is hoping for from Halton farmers, said Lori Stahlbrand, LFP's president. "Its kind of chicken and egg. Halton (Region) starting to work with us is going to, I hope, be a way to get more Halton farmers on board." LFP certifies Ontario farmers and proces- sors as sustainable based on various criteria, including reduced pesticide use, safe and fair labour conditions, humane care for live- stock, biodiversity, and on-farm energy use. After certifying interested farmers, the agency then links them to a market of food service contractors, restaurants and grocery stores interested in buying locally grown, sustainable foods. The Region said its agreement with LFP would support Ontarios farm economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissiòns. As part of the agreement, the municipality will require its contractor to buy 10 per cent of the food for the Regions cafeteria from sup- pliers on LFP's list. The municipality has pledged to increase that minimum to 25 per cent over the next three years, subject to sea- sonal availability and demand for the food. The Region won't have to pay its food services contrator, Lewisfoods of Burlington, anything extra due to the requirement it buy food from LFP farmers, said David Trevisani, Haltons director of financial and purchasing services. "This may be reviewed in future reports if economic factors and staff's contin- ued support, through their purchase of their meals in our cafeteria, changes substantially." Gross sales in Haltons cafeteria average about $500,000 annually but that includes yending machine and beverage sales, said David Trevisani, the Regions director of financial and purchasing services. The LFP agreement only affects cafeteria food. The Region doesn't have a buy-local poli- cy, instead focusing on getting the lowest cost. However, one of the goals of its pur- chasing bylaw is to encourage purchases that preserve the natural environnient. "To this end, suppliers may be selected to supply goods made by methods resulting in the least damage to the environment," states a Regional presentation explaining the municipality's purchasing policies. If thats the case, the Region could have chosen to buy food from completely organic farmers, said Eppinger. Tim Foran can be reached at tforan@milton- canadianchampion.com. : g- TO (;&OTY No Se rty Deposi .ndll20101eass 6bDont Me yu Topet hee Take aour trO ou vrual dh-ro at M#tentyanca mria ontosta.ca 905-875-1700 1245 Steeles Avenue (Corner of James Snow Pkwy. & Steeles Ave.) -1