May 2020
50th Edition
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Local Food Production Challenged on Many Levels By Barbra Fairclough WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on March 17th a BC public health emerOrganic Farms) is where organic farms can gency was declared and all restaurants and find helping hands from all over the world. cafes unable to maintain social distancing Moniz says he will not have the workers were ordered to move to take out and deliv- this year that they normally would. Without ery models. March 18th a BC state of emer- the help, it will extend the time it takes to gency was declared in support of the health get things done. A greenhouse project emergency allowing the government to se- planned for this year will be postponed. cure critical supply chains. Christine Begin of White Lake Organics We are learning about “supply chain was pressured to find yeast when consummanagement” while shifting our food hab- ers were over buying. Rogers Flour Mill in its. Grocers, marArmstrong closed, kets, kitchens and and Begin abruptly farms are adapting shifted to purchasto the fast-paced ing Rogers flour and, at times, daily from a food distribuchanges. Retail tor. Begin says sales grocers and food for her small bakery banks struggle to have been affected respond quickly to but she can achieve the social distancan inventory for ing needs. several months with The Scoop her packaged cracktalked to some ers that have a local farmers and “shelf life”. food producers to “It’s so hard to say see how they are what the long term responding to new holds.” says Begin. Scottish Highland Cow, Bastion Ranch situations and production She reflects on a posiPhoto Credit: courtesy Bastion Ranch requirements. tive note, “I feel fortu“We are getting calls from people we nate to live in this community where there haven’t spoken with before who are anxious is so much food available locally.” about meat supply.” says Ernest Moniz of Bastion Ranch in Sunnybrae sells grass High Croft Farm, an off-grid permaculture fed organic beef. They have seen an infarm located near Sorrento. This year Mon- crease in business since conditions have iz has seen a seed shortage with some seed been imposed and so far, things have not needing to be back ordered. “We are taking been too stressful says rancher David it one day at a time.” (Continued on page 3)