John Roston on Food Security

Historical contect from 2015 to 2022.

Large housing developments are building strata condos for investors rather than rental housing for young people and families.

Why so much of our food is imported

It is often cheaper for supermarkets to import food than to buy food produced locally even though transportation costs are much higher. Much of that has to do with significantly higher labour costs here. However an equally important obstacle is our inefficient food processing and marketing system which makes it difficult to provide a reliable and consistent product in sufficient quantity at a reasonable price throughout the year. It is especially difficult for small producers with limited food processing facilities to access the system.

Why we need to source more of our food locally

Covid has taught us that supply chains are easily disrupted. Global warming will increase the growing season in BC while disrupting agriculture in California and Mexico where much of the produce that we consume is currently grown. Transporting food long distances creates significant greenhouse gas emissions, another reason to grow our food close to where it is consumed.

What Council can do to turn the situation around

Council can look into providing co-op and rental housing near farmland serving a number of small farms for permanent and seasonal farm workers to make agricultural work more attractive to both young people and temporary immigrants. Council can also facilitate the organization of provincially financed food hubs which enable cooperative food processing and marketing for small farmers to provide consistent products in larger quantities and keep prices reasonable. This would ideally be done in collaboration with the supermarket chains.