PAGE 12, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1979, WHITBY FREE PRESS home This month a volunteer group called FOOD FIRST DURHAM will be surveying the town of Whitby to locate local producers of fruit, veg- etables, meat, eggs, cheese, honey, compost, firewood, etc, who are willing to sell directly to the public. The resulting directory will be made available to the public. This group is convinced that Canadians would be better off if armed with self-reliance, especially where food is concerned. The whole thing began as an inter-church study in World Development with special concern for the third world. Members of All Saints' Anglican Church, St. An- drew's Presbyterian Church, and St. Murk's United Church have been leaders in this group. They have disco- vered some shocking facts about the world food system. For instance: 1/4 of the world's people consume 3/4 of the worlds resources. Canada is in this small, affluent group. Although we complain that our food prices are too high, at least we have food, while 2/3 of the world population see s out 'rown food are Wronically hungry. In some developing coun- tries the land has fallen into the hands of wealthy owners, while the population at large is starving, unable to pay world food prices and having no lands for gardens of their own. One country uses all arable land for growing car- nations, another sugar cane, another tea or coffee, etc all for the wea.lthy nations' use. Canada could fall into this unenviable position. In Canada, our best arable land is a limited resource. It is being paved over by cities or held back from production by speculators . Small far- mers are Ieaving the land because of the cost price squeeze of agribusiness. Land prices as such that young people have little choice 9f acquiring a viable firm. The Canadian food system is complex. Big businesses are both growing and selling with on eye to squeezing out competition. The Gattfly publication tells us that by the year 2000, Canada will be in the position of importing all her food needs except what we eat for breakfast. To avoid and help prevent this sort of thing, Food First Durham is determined to make it possible for resi- dents here to purchase food from local growers. This will insure freshness and benefit the small farmers in our area. Readers who are interes- ted in selling through the Directory planned, or recei- ving the directory are invi- ted to call by the end of June Kathy, 668-1680, Jane 668- 6788 Tennis offered for ladies The Durham YMCA is again organizing a Ladies Take a Break Tennis at Henry Street High School. It is scheduled on Tuesday and Thusday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the months of July, August and September. The program consists of 3/4 hour Instruction, 1/2 hour instructional play and 3/4 hour of recreational play on rotation. Instructor is Margaret Walsh. Babysitting is provi- ded. For more information call the YMCA at 668-6888. Members of Food First Durham, Mary Shepherd (left) and Fran Roney (right) check out area maps for surveying food producers in the town of Whitby.. LEARN TO DRIVE! WHITBY, AJAX DRIVING SCHOOL PRIVATE LESSONS or DRIVING COURSE FOR INSURANCE DISCOUNT 666-1073 CHECKING FOR FOOD