‘Buy local’ campaigns brings boost to region’s farmers

Farmers all over Waterloo Region are preparing for another busy season in the fields, and say more people are turning to local growers to fill their plates.

The push to shop local has been fueled by the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade dispute, as local governments, like the City of Kitchener, urge residents to opt into buying goods and products made and grown within our borders.

Local farmers said the beginning of this season has been busier than usual because of the “buy Canadian” movement.

“We sold out of our (community-supported agriculture) about two months earlier than usual,” said Claire Poulton, co-owner of Little Fields Farm. “There was definitely a big push, especially early in the Spring, to support local.”

Poulton added that many of their community-supported agriculture signups came as news of the U.S. tariffs was announced and later rescinded in February.

“People just ask what we’re doing and seem more aware and interested in trying to source stuff from local farms, and to have a better connection to where their food is coming from,” said Jesse Way, owner of Milky Way Farm, which also runs a community-supported agriculture system and distributes produce to Waterloo Region at cafes and markets.

Local farmers said the latest push to buy local produce is promising, and can lead to residents forming a relationship with local growers that could lead to sustained purchases.

However, the Canadian food system relies heavily on the importing and exporting of produce.

“Our production cycles last a lot longer than the news cycles, so to make any substantial difference for us, for other farms, it has to be a much more sustained thing,” said Nathan Klassen, owner of Nith Valley Organics.

According to a study from the University of British Columbia, about half of all produce and three-quarters of all fruits purchased by consumers in Canada are grown outside of our borders, predominantly in the U.S.

“It’s a lot of being up against a broken distribution system that has been built for import-export rather than for making the best use of our local products locally,” said Klassen.

He knows local farmers who struggle to sell produce that consumers are having difficulty sourcing, which speaks to the distribution system as well as consumer habits.

Support local farmers this week and weekend as the St. Jacob’s Farmers Market celebrates its 50th anniversary.