Issues and opportunities for a healthy regional food system on the Sunshine Coast were at the core of a forum held June 15 at Roberts Creek Community Hall.
About 60 people gathered to discuss food growing on the Coast and the rewards and challenges associated with it.
"I look forward to advice from the growing community and how elected officials can help," said Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board chair Donna Shugar.
The cost of the forum was covered by the SCRD through a grant they received from BC Healthy Communities. Several guest speakers used the morning to share their experiences working as local food growers, followed by a "bioregional lunch" prepared by local caterer Mike Hesla. The afternoon was spent in several small round-table discussions.
"Everyone was positive and had the same kind of dialogue," said Dave Ryan, farmer and chair of the newly founded Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC). "Everyone seemed to be looking for solutions."
There was discussion about the agricultural land reserve (ALR), how it could be better used and what regulations are hampering food production on ALR lands.
Presenter and operator of West Sechelt Farm Produce Jon Bell said less than one per cent of Coast land is dedicated to the ALR and of that, less than two per cent is being farmed, even though there is a Farm Practices Protection Act commonly referred to as the Right to Farm Act.
Speaker Nadi Fleschhut summed up her presentation by saying she was focused on four things. At the top of her list was educating the public about buying locally, and more importantly, teaching them how to grow their own food no matter the size of land they live on. Secondly, she targeted land use and access to it, which was followed by her interest in government policy and farmers' rights. She said local governments need to consider at all times how their choices impact food security on the Coast. Lastly, she said economic security could be derived from a healthy, local economy that is tied into its own food production.
"Most food arrives by the local ferry system," Fleschhut said. "We need to do more than stockpile food. We have to have a regional, sustainable food design."
Robin Wheeler, owner of Edible Land-scapes, talked about how provincial and federal regulations have hindered small farmers' ability to make a living. She cited the elimination of farm-gate meat sales that force small farmers to transport animals for slaughter to an abattoir off-Coast, resulting in stress on the animals, increased time between slaughter and sale and an increase in the use of fossil fuels to truck animals and then refrigerate the meat for the return trip.
Paul and Dawn Myers own Backyard Bounty, a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program that uses land provided by the community, people's yards or unused fields to produce fruits and vegetables that are delivered weekly to investors.
"CSA members commit at the beginning of the season and their capital gets them going in the spring," said Paul.
He echoed many of the speakers' concerns about Coasters' reliance on food brought in from off Coast.
"When my food comes on jumbo jets from thousands of miles away, a lot more than the weather can go wrong," he said.
The AAC will now compile all the information presented to come up with a plan including further dialogue with the public.
