Securing the Food Future of the Lower Mainland

The Slow Food manifesto makes mention to how “fast life has changed our way of being and threatens our environment and our landscapes”. Climate change is predicted to have a huge impact on food availability here in the Lower Mainland. How important is it to protect our local growing regions, in particular the Fraser Valley, considered the most productive agricultural area in Canada? What can we do now to ensure food security and maintain healthy diets for the future?

Our ‘food footprint’ can be defined as the land required to produce the food we eat. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, BC residents currently have an individual food footprint equal to approximately 0.524 hectares (or the equivalent of six city lots). Our footprint can be divided between food bought in retail stores (approximately 60 percent in BC) and food consumed in restaurants, hospitals, and institutions (the remaining 40 percent). Most of the produce that is bought in grocery stores comes from California, Florida, Texas, and Mexico. Much of the food, regardless of type, that is consumed in restaurants, hospitals, and institutions is also imported from outside of Canada. Therefore, much of our food footprint is currently placed over South and Southwestern US.

Here in BC, south Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley, and the Okanagan are the most important food areas, as they have suitable climates, soil, and water resources to support the production of high quality foods. They are also closest to the regions of highest population.

The Fraser Valley is considered to have the best growing conditions in Canada, well suited to intensive crop production. The sediments laid down by the meandering flows and floods of the Fraser River, good aquifers, the Coastal Mountain range, and the nearby Pacific Ocean combine to provide ideal growing conditions. The Valley is also home to a diverse group of farmers from a variety of ethnicities, giving the area a unique flavour.

Currently, the Fraser Valley supplies approximately 60 percent of all food produced in BC with four major commodities: dairy, poultry, berries, and greenhouse products (e.g. flowers, vegetables, and nursery items). Almost all the eggs, poultry, and milk consumed in the Lower Mainland come from the Fraser Valley area. The climate and growing conditions in the Fraser Valley are ideal for growing some of the healthiest foods we can eat—like blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, strawberries, potatoes, and a variety of vegetables. The larger farms allow for a mix of smaller, niche operations to flourish as they provide access to equipment, expertise, fertilizers, and marketing.

While the demand for food in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland is still higher than the Fraser Valley can supply, the area is able to produce approximately 83 percent of all the vegetables and 41 percent of the fruit we consume. However, only 15 percent to 23 percent of locally produced vegetables and fruit actually enter the local market. Why? First of all, much of the production is the same and seasonal, i.e., we produce an abundance of blueberries, and what is not consumed locally is exported. Secondly, retail demands large supply and consistency, resulting in as much as 80 percent of our fruits and vegetables coming from areas with large scale distribution systems that can supply the same vegetables year round, like California, Florida, and Mexico. We have the capacity to grow a wide variety of vegetables and fruits locally, but in season, and often not at the huge scale of productions demanded by these multi-national distribution companies. This was pointed out in a March 2009 report on food security in the Vancouver area.

The problem is that with the increasing effects of climate change and global warming, many of the areas where we currently source our food are suffering from major water shortages. California for example is experiencing its worst drought in years, as described in a recent State-produced report. In addition, increased concern over the environmental damage caused by surface water flows that are too low, endangering aquatic species and their estuaries, as well as growing human populations, are causing the situation to worsen.

Climate change is predicted to result in more frequent, more severe, and longer lasting droughts in these areas. Farmers will use their scarce water to grow high-value crops, like almonds and grapes, and not grow lower-value foods like lettuce and other important vegetables. What is the result for people dependent on foods from these areas? Potential shortages and price hikes for many foods—including grains, meat, and perhaps in particular, vegetables and fruits; the very foods we should eat more of.

With the areas we currently rely on for food literally drying up, what does our future look like? Fortunately, the Fraser Valley can provide a large amount of our needs; so long as we protect the agricultural land from non-farming development. According to a report by Environment Canada, published in 2000, climate change is actually predicted to improve the Fraser Valley growing region. Climate models predict that the local area will warm by between three and four degrees. Winters will be 10 percent to 30 percent wetter with less snow and summers hotter and drier, resulting in a longer growing season and the possibility for higher-value crops to be introduced.

Despite the Fraser Valley being well suited to intensive crop production, there is still a great deal of agricultural land not being used to its full potential. What’s worse is that governments are giving away important food growing areas to be used for non-farming activities. For example, in April 2009, in a controversial decision, a 200-acre piece of prime raspberry growing land in the Fraser Valley was approved to be mined for gravel and have fill dumped on it, removing approximately 4 percent of BCs raspberry growing land, as referenced in a news article by Brian Lewis that appeared in the Province.

So what can be done to protect this valuable food-growing region? Start by learning about current food and agricultural issues in your area. Engage with the farmers, support their efforts in making this one of the best and most diversified food growing regions in Canada, and learn about agriculture right from them. This August, Slow Food Vancouver is offering leisurely self-guided cycling tours through the Fraser Valley that allow riders to meet the farmers, learn about local production, and sample the wonderful food grown here.

Find out more through resources like the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and local farming associations and food co-ops. Talk to your friends, your community, and your local politicians and let them know how important it is to protect our local food producing areas.

It is also critical to encourage and train new farmers for the future. One way to do this is through the sharing of knowledge. Every two years, farmers from around the world get together in Italy at a conference to discuss and share best farming practices at an event organized by Terra Madre.  Slow Food Vancouver is planning to send two young farmers (one from the Fraser Valley and one from a developing country) to Terra Madre in 2010.

The effects of climate change will inevitably impact our food supply in BC. It is important that we become educated on the issues and take the necessary steps to protect our food-growing regions like the Fraser Valley. Join Slow Food Vancouver this summer on one of our fun-filled Fraser Valley Cycling Tours and learn more about our unique local food producing region; donate to our Adopt-a-Farmer fund to send two farmers to the 2010 Terra Madre international food conference; and get involved in your local food culture!

It’s all about ensuring a good, clean, and fair food future for all residents of the Lower Mainland.