Though the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently expanded the definition of local food to mean anything within or near BC, Powell River residents are still going strong on the traditional version of the concept.
In the last decade, the Powell River area has become a hub of local, sustainable food sources. Farms abound, providing everything from produce to meat to wool. Local businesses have taken notice, carrying fish raised at Lois Lake and stores offering local produce. Many area restaurants serve local fare, whether fresh-caught or farm-raised.
Residents can also buy directly from the farmers at one of the city’s many markets. The Open Air Market in Paradise Valley has been going strong for years, but new players are also coming to the table. The Kelly Creek Garden Market began in April and is running all summer. Across the waters, the Texada Island Farmers’ Market will be hosting the new Farm Fest on August 25, which celebrates the history of farming on the island through food and activities.
Local initiatives are also involved in the movement. Powell River Food Security Project helps residents grow or gain access to local food. The project sponsors the long-running 50-Mile Eat-Local Challenge, which encourages participants to eat food from within a 50-mile radius for 50 days. It also organizes the annual Edible Garden Tour, which affords would-be gardeners a chance to learn from the backyard farms of others.
Skookum Food Provisioners’ Cooperative is another homegrown group that aims to build a regional food system. It provides local bulk seed buying as well as an initiative that allows members to group together and buy local produce for a cheaper price.
Both organizations, as well as many other independent farmers in town, offer workshops teaching residents everything from how to build a garden to how to ferment vegetables.
The benefits of this emphasis on local fare are numerous. The local movement provides a sense of food security. In an area locked in by ferries, it is important to have easily accessible sources of food.
It’s also great for the regional economy. Buying local infuses money back into the community and enables farmers to produce more food for the years to come.
Finally, local and organic produce has been proven by many studies to have a higher nutritional content than its mass-farmed counterpart. The same goes for pasture-raised meat, which avoids unneeded antibiotics and cramped, unhealthy living conditions. In short, locally grown food is just plain healthier.
