Council here has supported a local food promotion group with $500 after hearing a delegation on April 12.
Gayl Creutzberg came to explain the Guelph Wellington Local Food initiative called Taste Real.
“There really is value in the local community supporting local businesses,” Creutzberg said, adding that farmers and businesses are now creating a foundation to do that.
She said the Taste Real program would make local food more accessible to tourists and residents and also for those who might not be able to afford fresh local food.
The next step in the promotion is to get local food placed in schools and day care centres, and at community events, as well as having local restaurants involved.
Taste Real will undertake the promotion of such things as farmers’ markets. In 2008 those had economic impacts of $641-million to $1.9-billion.
“There are 318,000 people eating in Guelph and Wellington County,” Creutzberg said in her report.
“If a third of regional residents [the survey includes Waterloo Region] had access to and spent $10 of their grocery budget on local foods each week, this would contribute over $1-million to the local economy each year.
“Better yet, if all residents purchased 10% of their food locally, there would be $45-million spent locally.”
She said for $500, the township would receive a number of benefits, including the use of the Taste Real logo on marketing and event materials and merchandise (as approved by the brand management group).
The township would also receive input on marketing, promotions, Taste Real product development, and use of the brand, as well as committee involvement and rotating membership on the board. That provides council with an inside opportunity to ensure its stakeholders are featured when opportunities arise.
The township will also participate in collaborative, region wide projects and funding proposal. The township would also have a chance to be first to take part in new programs such as trails, events, and festivals.
Finally, the township would have its logo on the Guelph Wellington Local Food map and website, and collaborative advertising, public relations, media and social media promotions for the township and stakeholders.
Councillor Jim Curry asked how such clubs as Rotary could access local food information to buy locally for its events.
Creutzberg said Taste Real has a data base. And, for example, all a club member would have to do is type in “ground beef” in order to find out where to buy it locally.
She also noted local producers are listed on the food map.
Martin Tamlyn, who has worked in the area for an organic company and was with Creutzberg to support her presentation, said the local fall fair could be a Taste Real event. He said to Curry, “Call me, Jim.”
Curry replied, “We’ll be in touch.”
Councillor Neil Driscoll asked if Taste Real will promote any food grown in the county.
Creutzberg said it would, and organizers would like to get larger farms involved.
Mayor Bruce Whale said restaurants could take part, but he wanted to know if local items sold there would need a Taste Real logo.
Creutzberg said, “To become a Taste Real member, we want restaurants to buy from five member producers.”
That means produce grown in the county.
Creutzberg also said there will be spring and fall tours of farms arranged, with 15 to 20 farms open to the public to promote food grown locally. Those will be on May 28 and Sept. 24.
Whale said the promotion does affect a large part of Wellington County, but added he sees an Elmira promotion involved.
Creutzberg said tourism and food “know no boundaries.” She said Conn-grown tomatoes are sold in Elmira, and it is often Wellington residents who buy them and bring them back to the county.
Chief Administrative Officer Patty Sinnamon said the Wellington County economic development group has talked extensively about the promotion, and is planning an event in September, where local chefs will participate.
Whale said 80% of the omega 3 milk available in Ontario is produced in Mapleton, but there is nothing to designate that, and several companies provide it, with a major one located in Georgetown.
He told Creutzberg council would make its decision later in the meeting, and when that issue arose, council passed it unanimously.
