'Speed networking' connects farmers to local markets

Monday, March 2, 2009

© AgMedia Inc.

by TREENA HEIN

In order to boost local food sales, London-area producers will meet face-to-face with buyers at a ‘local food’ networking event at the end of March.

The quick rotating session format of this ‘speed networking’ event is intended to maximize the development of local food business connections. 

Mary Yanful, the manager for the Community Garden Project at the London Community Resource Centre, says the event stems from a ‘Local Foods for Local People’ conference held last November.

“There was a lot of discussion about farmers needing a way to connect with buyers,” she says. “It’s all well and good to talk about local food, but we need ways to get that food into the hands of the consumer.”

This event was therefore planned to allow farmers who want to sell into local food markets to meet with buyers who want to offer more local food, which includes chefs and restaurant cooks, retailers, processors, distributors, food-service outlets and institutional food providers such as hospitals.

Yanful says she and the other organizers had heard of similar events held recently in communities around Ontario, namely Kingston and Toronto. “It’s been successful in these other places,” she says, “and we feel confident it will be successful here.”

There is room for 150-200 participants and registration is so far going well.

Sandy Smith, who farms beef with his wife Kathy in Melbourne, will attend. They hope to boost their sales of freezer beef and a pre-cooked high-quality product they began selling to several restaurants in the London area last year.

This value-added portioned product, produced by a local abattoir, provides both convenience and consistency in terms of the tenderness, juiciness and flavour that restaurant owners need. “In three to four minutes, chefs can use the hot beef for roast beef dinners or beef on a bun, whatever they like,” says Smith.

This event is sponsored by many organizations, including Farm Credit Canada, Savour Ontario, and Ontario Federation of Agriculture County Federation chapters of Middlesex, Huron County, Perth County, Lambton County and Oxford County.

Ontario Federation of Agriculture Vice President Don McCabe says the OFA supports local food initiatives because “they help us reduce our carbon footprint and put the safest food on Ontario tables. They also help people realize how much great quality food is available right here.”

The Local Foods Farmer/Food Buyer Speed Networking Event will take place at the Western Fair Entertainment Centre, Carousel Room, in London from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon on March 31st.

Pre-registration ($20, but free for farmer-exhibitors) is required. For complete details and to register, visit the London Economic Development Corporation website or contact the London Community Resource Centre at 519-432-1801 ext. 300 or e-mail mary@lcrc.on.ca BF