Local food myths and facts

Trying to get healthier by eating local? Take this true or false quiz to make sure you're getting all the benefits you think you are

Celebrate food ... from field to table!, the theme for Dietitians of Canada's National Nutrition Month, couldn't be more timely as more than ever before, Canadians are trying to eat local fare. But the question is: do you really know where your food comes from? Or do you really care?

The health of our environment and economy may depend on it. According to Statistics Canada, in 2006, there were over 200,000 farms in operation in Canada. And each can produce food for about 120 people for a whole year. But those figures could drop dramatically if shoppers don't read the writing on the wall - or rather on labels at the supermarket or green grocer which states the origin of the item. For example, currently apples are Canada's largest fruit crop in terms of weight produced. Opt for imported apples from places like China on a regular basis and you can bet that the number of apple orchards in Canada will decrease.

Here's some fact and fiction about Canadian food for you when you contemplate what's on your menu.

1. You can still be a locavore and eat a variety of flavours and types of foods. True or false?

True. Buying bananas, citrus fruits or olive oil doesn't mean that you're not a locavore. Locavore, the New Oxford American Dictionary's 2007 Word of the Year, is used to describe someone who seeks food that is locally produced. Some locavores, though, take it further and are committed to consuming only local food and none from faraway places. But living in Canada, local choices can be limited through some parts of the year.
 
While there are greenhouses throughout the country, some nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables such as citrus, kiwis or avocados are not grown in this Great White North. But when local products are available, opting for them can make a difference not only in terms of the environment but also for the Canadian economy. And to enjoy them year long, you can consider freezing, home canning and preserving. Choosing locally produced meat, dairy and grain products may be easier to do year round. In berry season, when you see local ones next to imported, the choice should be easy. Or check out whether your garlic has come from half way around the world in China or from a local farm.

Or better yet, when possible go for that from the soil on your property or a planter on a terrace. Showing kids where their food comes from, whether from a farm or their yard, is a super way to get them interested in healthy eats. And if you can't make it to a farm, check outhttp://www.farmissues.com where there are virtual tours and activities like games for youngsters.

 

2. You can trust that foods labelled as Product of Canada contain mainly Canadian goods. True or false?

True. Product of Canada means that all major ingredients and labour used to make the food come from Canada. Minor items like spices, food additives, vitamins and minerals may come from a source outside of Canada but the product may still labelled as Product of Canada.

When such ingredients are minor ingredients added as a flavouring in a food (less than two per cent) and labelled as for flavouring, their presence would not disqualify the food from a Product of Canada claim.

3. Fresh produce always beats out frozen in terms of nutrition. True or false?

False. Frozen vegetables and fruit are processed at the peak of their nutritional quality. And the variety and taste has come a long way from what was available years ago. Fresh produce, on the other hand, can sit on the shelf at your green grocers or supermarket and then in your refrigerator for far too long, allowing for nutrient levels to diminish.

But there is some interesting new research to report about storage containers and supermarket lighting. A team from the American USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) found that the fluorescent lighting typically found in supermarkets could boost the levels of vitamins C, K, E and folate along with the carotenoids or yellowish pigments, lutein and zeaxanthin. in spinach. Folate levels increased by 84 to 100 per cent over nine days of continuous light exposure. Ideally though, using your fresh produce more quickly can help to cut down on the amount of packaging needed.

4. If you're looking for the best, always go for organic, even over local produce. True or false?

False. Nothing can beat the taste of local produce. And if you can shop, in season, at a farmer's market and meet the person who has brought their goods to market, you can have a better idea of how that food is grown. Organic food that has been transported over long distances may lose their nutrients more so when compared to local produce.

And when it comes to the cost, paying more for organic produce over local options may be a price that's simply not worth paying.

5. Organic produce provides a significantly higher level of nutrients over conventional. True or false?

False. But this is one area that is not straightforward. The levels of many vitamins and minerals depend on many factors including the crop variety, soil, climate, ripeness and handling. A number of studies have shown little difference between the vitamin and minerals content of organic and conventional produce.

But it's the phytochemical content - phyto meaning plant - that may be higher in some organic produce. These disease-fighting compounds are actually produced by the plant to protect itself against a number of enemies such as pests or disease. And when a plant has to rely on its own defences, rather than a pesticide, for example, it may lead to higher readings of some compounds. German research on organic apples, for example, found that they had higher antioxidant counts compared to their conventional counterparts.

Stay tuned as the area of the nutrient value of organic versus conventional produce is a hotbed of research.

6. Canada does not allow hormones to be given to cows to increase their milk supply. True or false?

True. While Canada had banned the use of the hormone BST (Bovine somatotropin), it can be used in cattle in the U.S. Though many American consumers look for products where this hormone has not been given to cows, due to worries over both human and animal health, Canadians can rest assured that all our milk is BST-free.

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