June 9, 2008
By Bert Andrews and Jim Warren
The average food miles that food and beverage travels from field to plate is accepted to be 1500 miles or 2400 kilometres. Reducing food and beverage miles is not a violation of free and international trade, in fact all governments need to be supportive of measures to reduce food and beverage miles. All proposals for expansion of local food and beverage need to be evaluated seriously by all levels of government. Selling 100% Local Ontario Fruit Wine at Seasonal Farmers’ Markets is one method to reduce imports. In so doing greenhouse gases are reduced, local health is improved and the local environment is improved. In other words climate change is reduced. If more people would buy into the concept of local food and beverage, all society on a global scale would benefit.
The return to the Ontario economy for a bottle of wine from France, Italy, South Africa, Chile, Australia etc. is considered to be $0.56. The return to the Ontario economy for a bottle of Ontario Wine is considered to be at least $4.29. That is over 7 times the return to the Ontario economy per bottle. Not only is locally produced wine good for the economy, it is also good for society as stated earlier. Local wine is sold at Farmers’ Markets in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Iowa and many other jurisdictions. It is probably a violation of international trade for local Ontario Farm Wineries to be denied access to the same local markets as are available to Farm Wineries in Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, namely Farmers’ Markets.
The Fruit Wines of Ontario Association has been diligently gaining support for the concept of selling 100% Ontario Fruit Wine at Seasonal Farmers’ Markets.
The following is a very incomplete list of supporters for this concept.
Honourable Leona Dombrowsky
Honourable Steve Peters
Maria Van Bommel, MPP
Ted Arnott, MPP
Ted Chudleigh, MPP
Lou Rinaldi, MPP
Kevin Flynn, MPP
Jeff Leal, MPP
Christine Elliott MPP
Norm Miller MPP
Randy Hillier MPP
Michael Chong MP
Garth Turner MP
Region of Halton
Norfolk County
Brant County
Elgin County
Joyce Savoline, Region of Halton
Town of Halton Hills
Town of Milton
Farmers’ Markets Ontario
Fruit Wines of Ontario
Greenbelt Foundation (also Grape Wines)
Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee (Enhancing and Energizing the --GTA Local Food System)
Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association
Milton Chamber of Commerce
Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Halton Region Federation of Agriculture
Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association
Ontario Berry Growers Association
Downtown Georgetown Farmers’ Market
Central Ontario Viticulture Association
Milton Farmers’ Market
St. Jacobs’ Farmers’ Market
For the concept of selling 100% Ontario Fruit Wine at Local Farmers’ Markets to be acceptable to provincial ministries, consumers and wineries, Fruit Wines of Ontario have developed a full scale detailed proposal as to how the details can be implemented starting with a pilot project. To see this proposal in action, one needs to travel to or converse with other jurisdictions. One also needs to visit the winery retail outlet at the St Lawrence Market. If selling wine by the bottle at Farmers’ Markets is delayed, a first step could be free wine samples at Farmers’ Markets after obtaining the necessary LCBO permits. Ontario citizens are as socially responsible as other jurisdictions.
Yours truly, Yours truly, Bert Andrews, B.Sc.A. OAC Jim Warren, M.A. Director, Government Liaison Executive Director Fruit Wines of Ontario Fruit Wines of Ontario Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture 9 Crozier Court Vendor at Farmers’ Markets Hamilton, ON L8T 2V8 #9365, R.R. #5, 10 Sideroad paradise@mountaincable.net Milton, ON L9T 2X9 ph. 905-383-3982 farm@AndrewsScenicAcres.com cell 905-691-2672 Farm 905-878-5807www.littlefatwino.com
