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Shop, Eat and Experience Alberta's Local Food | |
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From the Aug 4, 2008 Issue of Agri-News | |
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This project is intended to offer farmers opportunities to gain knowledge and skills required to fulfill these markets, broaden their market access, meet and partner with other like-minded producers and stakeholders, and ultimately capture enhanced profit at the farm gate. Industry partner groups also benefit from this project as a win-win opportunity to meet common goals and provide benefit to mutual client groups.
"There are four strategies based on consumer trends - healthy, local, green and convenient," says Sharon Stollery, business diversification, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Stony Plain. "These are trends that are really driving consumers today."
The four strategies that make up the Local Market Expansion Project include:
- attracting new entrants to the industry and working with producers already in the industry to enhance their business skills
- building alliances so that many smaller farms and producers can work together to maximize their success.
- facilitating programs that drive consumer awareness - programs such as buy local or others that all members of this sector can fit under
- identifying regulatory barriers that could impede this sector and taking steps to remedy those barriers
"There are a lot of activities associated with this project already well underway," says Stollery. "Programs such as the agri-preneur scholarship is expanding, and resource development for food safety and pricing are being worked on. We are working with existing provincial associations and regional groups to help them form beneficial alliances. The team is also working with other partner groups, such as Travel Alberta and Growing Alberta, to develop a culinary tourism alliance that will concentrate on the burgeoning opportunities in that area."
Research focused on consumer demand and a benchmark project to determine where this Alberta industry currently stands are underway. Knowing where the industry is at is a first step in determining its potential. The program will also address industry or regulation barriers and update guidelines; for example, the farmers' market guidelines.
"The bottom line is that there is opportunity for farmers in this growing industry segment," says Stollery. "It may be a different perspective for many farmers, but there's opportunity and there's profit to be made. There is also an opportunity for consumers who want to source local product and support local farmers."
This program is funded by the Agricultural Policy Framework, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative that aims to make Canada the leader in food safety, innovation and environmentally responsible agriculture production.
Contact: Sharon Stollery 780-968-3514
The contents of this page are no longer available.
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Sharon Stollery.
This document is maintained by Ada Serafinchon.
This information published to the web on July 30, 2008.
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