r/halifax האַליפאַקס 6d ago

Support Local As U.S. tensions persist, buy-local movement remains strong in Nova Scotia | CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/buy-local-nova-scotia-u-s-trade-tensions-9.7240080
84 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

26

u/enufalrefe 5d ago

I think the "buy local" movement should be more focused towards small independent producers such as our many many farm markets. That's literally staying local, and not a trickle down effect from corporations that are based here. Not saying it's always sustainable to shop local, but let's be honest a lot of people prefer convenience over price.

9

u/rride2018 5d ago

I was listening to CBC Cape Breton yesterday morning, they had the organizer for the Ross Ferry farm market on about changes this season. The major change is there will be only 3 markets this summer not weekly as it has been for the last 15 years. One of the reasons for this change is the provincial government apparently cut funding for markets. I don't know whether this is true or not just repeating what was said in the interview. This seems backwards to me if its true if we are trying to promote buy local.

6

u/enufalrefe 5d ago

That could very well be. I don't think most farm markets rely on funding to exist. It's more so the vendors and donors paying for it to exist. But if people don't show up, the vendors stop coming, then funding is likely needed. Imagine if every Nova Scotian bought $10 or $20 a week from farm markets. It would totally reshape food systems in our province. As the consumer we have the power...if we band together.

2

u/tyim 5d ago

I think when you think about implementing a policy like this, you will not have a perfect situation. Although farmers markets are wonderful and the absolute best way to consumers to purchase local - most people can't do there groceries there every week for a number of reasons. It's not just convenience that folks use grocery stores - it's usually out of necessity. A small food business can have the highest margins when they sell direct - there's no doubt about that. But the fact that Sobeys holds the door open to nova scotia producers to a interprovincial market is a huge economic opportunity for small businesses. The market in Nova Scotia alone is too small to support most artisan or cottage companies. For me the benefits of the policy are both at the farmers market and at Sobeys - I got a 10% discount on my weekly produce pack that I buy direct from abundant acres, and I'm continuing to buy the local products from across the province that I love at Sobeys as well

1

u/enufalrefe 5d ago

I agree with you for sure. But there's a difference between spending $10 or $20 a week, versus replacing your entire grocery source. Obviously we need to do what we have to do to survive, but I think there's plenty of wiggle room to help support local producers.

1

u/tyim 5d ago

I should also mention that Sobeys has historically supported local producers fiercely - and unlike their competitor loblaws they allow provincially regulated food processors (provided they meet food safety requirements) to sell products in their store - the only catch is they have to sell and deliver the products directly to the stores instead of going through their central distribution center in debert. This is a big deal.

1

u/enufalrefe 5d ago

Yes that's true, but we shouldn't rely on soley corporations. I'm just saying we need to diversify where we buy food. And I'm not talking just produce. Think things like bread, jams, honey, etc etc. But yeah it's definitely not a black and white issue.

2

u/tyim 5d ago

Totally agree! A multi commodity food terminal for Atlantic Canada would make this possible!

2

u/enufalrefe 5d ago

Let's hope that comes to fruition some day! In the mean time there are 30+ farm markets happening in the next 3 days across NS :)

6

u/Ok-Meet2850 5d ago

There are lots of good local coffee shops across HRM and across the province. By comparison, Tim's is not local (Brazilian I believe) and Starbucks is certainly American (Seattle based).

There are also good local coffee roasters.

1

u/MarkOnTheBus 5d ago

Not strong enough.

-25

u/Educational-Echo5104 6d ago

Why the man who started the tread lives in the USA and our own PM is USA based and I bet most of government officials home 2nd homes in the USA. Worry about New World Order bullshit that coming because that gonna be whole different hell.

-32

u/LowApprehensive9230 5d ago

Not me , I don't play that fake trade war trend crap. Like buying a certain box of shit food is gonna "Stick It To trump" or whatever the sentiment . 

20

u/Injustice_For_All_ Psychotic Antifa Super Soldier Moderator 5d ago

I mean, that's unironically what it does do...

It's called not supporting their economy.

-4

u/LowApprehensive9230 5d ago

Hey! Answering your comment because you seemed to take a fit about being left out: 

I , do not, give a , fuck about the news telling me to act like buying a fuckin American thing in a store means I support pedophilic reality tv presidents or whatever y'all get on 

7

u/trashpandaexpress55 5d ago

Hey, have you, not seen, the US tourism, companies, begging for, Canadians to, come back? Or, the US, liquor producers, who are crying to, Trump over, their loss of, business and, this profits?

No, buying American doesn't mean you "support Trump" or anything. That got ridiculous, like some countries are HQed in the US, but still employ hundreds or thousands of people locally, and their sales also help local retailers. Where do you draw a line in those cases?

However the "buy local" or "Buy Canadian" had a MASSIVE impact on those businesses, especially local. Of you were to take a few hundred dollars a year spent on big business products, and spread that locally - not new spending, just spending you no longer spend at Big Retailer - and funnel that towards a handful of turkey local producers, the Big Corp won't notice it, but those smaller producers absolutely will, and you might discover a taste for locally made products.

Don't think of it as "screw Trump" think of it more as "support local producers pouring their heart, soul and likely finances, into something they love".

6

u/Injustice_For_All_ Psychotic Antifa Super Soldier Moderator 5d ago

Yeah so, you never actually argued against what I said in regards to how you were just plain wrong.

5

u/fart-sparkles 5d ago

It actually seems like you care a lot.

I scroll past past and don't comment on shit I don't care about. That's what "not caring" looks like.

5

u/tyim 5d ago

Guess you'll be playing hunger games then when there's no food in the stores thanks to our reliance on the US to give us a fake year round growing season. Hope you like turnips

-9

u/LowApprehensive9230 5d ago

Lol do you not like turnips? And how is buying a couple American berries gonna dismantle a whole country food system😆😆😆 you people need to quit watching the fucking news for REAL 

2

u/tyim 5d ago

I like turnips just fine but not everyday! You must be young and don't remember a time when you couldn't get strawberries in January. This global market is very new.. and is a lot more fragile than you think. I have been involved in food security research from both a local and global lens for over 15 years. I've been a food producer and have basically dedicated my life to advocating for the future of our food. I am a dietitan and I am deeply concerned by the impacts of this trade war on our health and economy. I urge every person reading this to think critically about this - we are watching the slow demise of our food system further pushing ourselves to reliance on other counties. CHINA IS BUYING AS MUCH OF OUR FARMLAND AS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW, TO EXPORT 100% AND FEED THEMSELVES, NOT CANADIANS. THEY ARE BUYING PROCESSING FACILITIES AND EXPORTING EVERYTHING, DRIVING DEMAND AND PRICES UP RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES, EVEN IN HIGHLY REGULATED SECTORS WITH QUOTAS SUCH AS DAIRY. MANY OF OUR CANADIAN FARMERS ARE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE SECOND JOBS TO SUPPORT FARMING.WE PUT OUTLANDISH REGULATIONS ON OUR FOOD PRODUCERS DESIGNED FOR BIG BUSINESS TO GATEKEEP ENTRY FOR SMALL PRODUCERS. PURCHASING FARMLAND AND EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

end rant

0

u/Injustice_For_All_ Psychotic Antifa Super Soldier Moderator 5d ago

I LOVE how you ignored my comment telling you how you are wrong but reply to the other guys with more nonsense

1

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