Policy options to support food sovereignty in a post-pandemic world The tumultuous and uncertain state of the world in recent months poses an opportunity to analyze, with care, the systems we live in. We are in a public health crisis, an anti-racism revolution, and an economic recession¹. At the intersection of these three realities is the food system. The need…
Island farmers save seed to assert local ownership over food production Food sovereignty: the central element of a food system in which communities control the production and consumption of their food. It prioritizes local, affordable, sustainable, and culturally appropriate food. On PEI, farmers believe that the Island can become food sovereign. The movement begins with a network of farmers saving…
Despite being ‘Canada’s Food Island’, PEI faces challenges with food security Food and shelter: two of the most basic needs a person has. Imagine having to choose between them. Unfortunately for a number of Islanders, that is a choice that they sometimes have to make. In a 2014 survey, 8700 households¹ in PEI were deemed food insecure. With 15.1 percent…
Local study looks at link between food insecurity and diabetes A recently released medical study has looked at the links between food insecurity and diabetes. Dr Katherine Bell formerly had a medical practice in western PEI and partnered with Dr Shannon Curtis to examine how food, in particular fresh produce, can influence the health of Type 2 diabetics on PEI.…
October 1, 2019
Eat Think Vote event in Charlottetown one of many held across Canada As the federal campaigning roars into full gear, many forums, rallies, and debates are being held across PEI. On September 23, a non-partisan public forum, Eat Think Vote, was held in Charlottetown at Carrefour de l’Îsle-Saint-Jean. The event was part of the Eat Think Vote campaign coordinated by…
June 1, 2018
PEI Food Share looking for more volunteers First founded in 2015 by Christy Morgan to help cut down on food waste, PEI Food Share has continued to grow over the past few years, an unfortunate testament to the fact that many people in PEI suffer from food insecurity. Heather Coles stepped into Morgan’s shoes in 2017, and with the help…
March 31, 2018
Finding common ground in school food programs A diverse group of people gathered at the PEI Farm Centre on March 15 to discuss the challenges and successes of several projects implemented as part of the PEI government’s Community Food Security and Food Education Program. Teachers, dieticians, parents, farmers, and concerned citizens participated in a robust discussion. Some of the many…
February 1, 2018
Catering to kid’s tastes with a lunch program From school breakfast programs to the provincial government’s Community Food Security and Food Education program introduced last spring, there is a growing recognition of students’ need for healthy, nutritious foods, both at school and at home. The phrase ‘good food’ has become synonymous with this effort to give students a firm foundation…
November 1, 2017
Recalling the preserving of a past generation Need something to eat in the middle of winter? A simple trip to the fridge or even to the grocery store is all we do today, but just one or two generations ago, it wasn’t that easy for many Islanders. Rural PEI in the 1940s and 50s was still a place where many…
November 1, 2017
Fermentation parties offer value for all involved On the Monday in early October when I visit Heart Beet Organics in Darlington, it’s a drab, overcast day complete with a biting cold wind. The weather, however, has done nothing to dampen the spirits of Heart Beet’s friendly farming duo, Amy Smith and Verena Varga, or the six women and one man…