food Archives

Future Food: Getting Beyond the Energy Blindness of Techno-Utopianism

(The following is adapted from The Future is Rural: Food System Adaptations to the Great Simplification, by Jason Bradford. How’s this for a party-stopper: Contrary to the forecasts of most demographers, urbanization will reverse course as globalization unwinds during the 21st century. The eventual decline in fossil hydrocarbon flows, and the inability of renewables…

Canada, BC Support Agriculture in Indigenous Communities

The provincial and federal governments have announced a new program to assist Indigneous communities in BC interested in expanding their agricultural businesses and supporting local food security. Under this new initiative, professional and qualified business consultants with experience in building agriculture ventures are able to provide site-specific guidance on the types of crops or…

Small Stores a Big Idea?

This article by the New York Times‘ Kim Severson showcases some intriguing ways innovative entrepreneurs are ensuring folks in small towns and urban neighbourhoods have access to healthy food. The Freshest Ideas Are in Small Grocery Stores As big supermarkets struggle, a new crop of local groceries are innovating to serve niche audiences and advance…

Local Food, the Secret Ingredient for Vibrant Downtowns

Whether you are a foodie or a farmer, local food is something to embrace. In small towns, the local food movement is doing more than putting meals on plates—it is nourishing economies by keeping farms vital and downtowns alive. In this Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design hour-long webinar, we hear how farmers’ markets and food…

Food, glorious food, Shuswap style

Surveys show a sizeable majority of British Columbians would prefer to buy and consume food grown close to home. Yet no more than five percent of the food we eat is locally sourced. Some see this as a problem. Others see it as a tremendous opportunity. In this podcast, the Shuswap Food Co-Op’s Ronn Boeur…