Consider the F-words
No, this isn’t about the F-word we all know and shouldn’t use. Rather, I want to talk about a few other moderately negative words which have been getting boat loads of attention — no pun intended. Ferries. Fresh food. Fat.
Although the Retail Council of Canada has asked that perishables like meat and produce be given priority on our ferries, it seems they won’t be getting it.
Coming from places near and far, it can take up to a week for some of the produce to reach North Sydney. Yes, that’s before it gets on the ferry to make its way over to us. Obviously any delay in the travel chain will result in produce of poorer quality, and if left long enough, the quantity on store shelves, too.
However, this issue boils down to more than just the quality and quantity of food. It’s also about food security and our health. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians consume the least amount of fruits and veggies of anyone in the country. Roughly 75 per cent of us don’t eat five or more servings a day.
Our rates of being overweight and obese also exceed the national averages for all ages. Roughly 36 per cent of kids and a whopping 71 per cent of adults in our province are overweight or obese — much higher than the national averages of 26 per cent and 59 per cent, respectively.
The correlation of the underconsumption of fruits and veggies with obesity has been well established. Toss in there a shortage of quality fruit and veggies, and produce sitting on trucks too long so it’s optimal nutrition has been devalued, and it’s more a case of what came first, the chicken or the egg?
We hear a lot about local, and there’s no doubt we should all try and eat more of it. Some estimates are that 10 per cent of fresh vegetables in major retailers across Newfoundland and Labrador are produced here, and the Federation of Agriculture suggests that two per cent of agricultural products available in our stores are made right here.
There are many reasons to eat local, and the aforementioned stats are just the tip of that iceberg. Eating local might actually be a little easier for people in Labrador in the near future. Funding was announced earlier this month for a family farm in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to construct a year-round hydroponic greenhouse.
On the island we have some resources, too. The St. John’s Farmers Market is open every Saturday at the Lions Chalet on Bonaventure Avenue from now until December.
If you live outside the city and on the Avalon Peninsula, there’s also the Buy Local! Buy Fresh! website (www.avalonfresh.ca).
The ferry system is what it is, and might be as good as it gets. Right now it might not be something we can change, and if the quality of produce bothers you, perhaps you should focus on some things you can do yourself to make quality and freshness a priority. Eat seasonally. You’ll find a guide for that on the website Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Make friends with grocers and ask when the produce comes in. Or, better yet, ask how long it has been on store shelves. It may have been placed on shelves today, but brought in the store the day or so before.
Do a little digging while in the store, too. My experience has been if I’m in a rush and grab whatever is at the top of the pile, it might have a bad spot or two and only last a day back home. Taking some time to search underneath or away from the middle of a display might reward your effort with a fresher product.
Try and buy less, overall. We already know that because of our geography the food in our stores might not last as long. Take that into consideration when shopping. How often do you end up throwing out the limp head of lettuce or broccoli?
Scale back on portions. Most of us have eyes bigger than our bellies. Larger quantities of food purchased often equals larger quantities of food consumed, and ultimately larger tummies.
Another suggestion is to plan meals ahead, and when you’re shopping, only buy for those meals you have planned.