Calling all locavores! The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has just announced a temporary broader definition for “local”. Now, anything grown and sold within the province or 50 km from the border can be considered “local”. This widens the local catchment area from the previous 50 km limit.
Regulators recognize that this is a broad interpretation and stakeholders have a variety of views on how the term “local” should be defined. CFIA announced it will conduct a labelling review in the coming weeks to help shape the future labelling approach including the use of the term “local”. In the meantime, remember that claims such as “local” are voluntary and food makers are encouraged to add qualifiers such as the name of a city or region to provide consumers with relevant and meaningful information. Regulations are changing so watch for your opportunity for input and remember it is always the responsibility of the regulated party to comply with applicable legislation and regulations. For more information: http://bit.ly/17adHSa
Ontario greenhouse growers have already created a new logo to help consumers find local foods and beverages. A new Naturally Fresh Inside campaign from the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) is an ambitious program to encourage consumers to buy local produce such as English cucumbers, bell peppers and tomatoes. Look for in-store sampling, point-of-sale educational material, flyers, radio spots, social media advertising and a partnership with Foodland Ontario. For more information, visit: www.ontariogreenhouse.com.
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