Foothills farmers and ranchers will have a new avenue to get their products directly to families’ dinner tables this year.
The Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society is launching a new Farm to Table initiative to help connect producers and consumers.
Hugo Bonjean, society vice-president and local author, said the initiative is a way to help foothills food producers get a better return for their products, provide consumers with a source of sustainable, locally grown food and educate people about where their food comes from.
“We feel this really could be an answer for farmers and make it economically viable to live from farming and bring better food to consumers,” he said.
The society is launching the initiative on March 25 in conjunction with a launch party for Bonjean’s latest novel, “A People’s Power”.
Through the initiative, consumers or restaurants will be able to link with producers to be able to purchase a portion of a crop or supply of food ahead of time. For example, Bonjean said a person might be able to purchase a quarter share of the meat of a cow from a rancher.
“It’s a place where local food growers and artisan producers can sell their produce directly to consumers,” he said.
Known as consumer service agriculture (CSA), Bonjean said this model is common in many parts of the U.S. and eastern Canada, but is still relatively new in Alberta.
According to Bonjean, this kind of relationship can benefit both sides.
“As a consumer, the price is going to go down,” he said. “For the farmer, his margin is going to go up. The consumer ultimately knows where the meat comes from and how it is raised.”
The initiative could also help food producers to learn about other crops they could pursue or what others are doing in the area, said Bonjean.
The initiative allows the agricultural society to go beyond promoting the area’s heritage as it also makes it more economically relevant for producers in the foothills, he said.
An information booth will be set up at the Millarville Farmer’s Market when it opens for the year on June 11 featuring information about participating agricultural producers and what they offer. The society is also in the process of developing a website to be part of the initiative.
There aren’t any producers lined up to participate in the initiative yet.
Given the nature of the agriculture sector in the foothills, Bonjean said meat producers will likely make up a much of the initiative. However, he expects more foods could be included as others catch on and different crops become viable.
Producers do not have to be a vendor at the market to be a part of the initiative.
As part of the project, the society will redevelop the concession at the market and use foods from market venders and local producers. However, he said they will also be looking at a number of different projects, such as heritage cooking demonstrations or school programs.
The initiative’s launch party will be held at the Millarville Racetrack Hall at 7:30 p.m. and will have a $10 cover charge. Proceeds from the event will go towards the initiative. The event will include a presentation of the project, a reading from Bonjean’s book, a dance featuring the Black Diamond Strings and food from local producers.
