New initiatives aim to boost Alberta’s local food industry

Alberta will soon have a new local food council and provincial organic food standards, which the government hopes will grow the local food industry beyond its current billion-dollar economic footprint.

It’s also proclaiming an annual Alberta Local Food Week, set to coincide with Open Farm Days each August.

The changes are part of an ongoing push to diversify Alberta’s economy, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier said Thursday.

Around $1 billion worth of local food is sold direct to consumers at local farms and Alberta’s 120 farmers markets — a number that has doubled over the last decade. That doesn’t include local restaurant, wholesale and retail sales.

Carlier doesn’t have a target in mind when it comes to growth, but said Thursday he’s confident the changes will boost the sector.

Food council recommendations due in 12 months

The new local food council will be tasked with figuring out what policies, pilot projects and programs will help boost Alberta’s local food sector.

The idea came out of work by the all-party economic development committee, which recently focused its work on agri-food and agri-business opportunities in Alberta.

Council membership will include food producers from all over the province, although some of its work will focus specifically on the challenges faced by small producers and processors.

Carlier said he didn’t want to pre-empt its work, but he’s looking forward to getting the council’s advice. “I want to hear from them about what more we can do with the concept of local food and expanding that opportunity,” he said Thursday.

Remuneration for the council will be along similar lines to other committees.

GOING ORGANIC

Currently, federal organic food standards only apply to food sold between provinces or internationally.

That left a grey area for local organic producers who sell exclusively in Alberta — how would consumers have confidence in their products?

To plug the gap, the province will adopt the Canadian Organic Standard in April 2019.

Producers falling foul of the regulations can be penalized, but provincial officials say that will be a last resort. Instead, the emphasis will be on education.

I want to hear from them about what more we can do with the concept of local food and expanding that opportunity.