Where do you turn if you are a Canadian, and looking to support your local agriculture?
I know, I know. What am I doing looking for a CSA in November? There isn’t much growing around here in the winter besides snow, salt, and gravel. I still think it’s worth looking. With my research, I found there is the possibility of procuring meat from the farmer here in Quebec.
Unlike the United States – with its superb LocalHarvest.org – Canada’s information on local CSA programs are a bit like an insipid wonton soup at a Chinese buffet. Sure, there are websites that cater to Ontario and Quebec, but the steps to find information elsewhere are atrocious. Perhaps, once we catch up with our American neighbors, things will take a turn for the better. A universal website for Canada, (that works) would be a great help.
For my Canadian readers, I have put together a list of CSA programs to visit. I searched for CSA programs by province. If there is one that I have missed, let me know in the comments below.
- British Columbia: Farm Folk City Folk is a great resource to find what you need.
- Alberta: CSA Alberta
- Saskatchewan: Your best resource is Keith Neu’s site, JustBeef.ca
- Manitoba: You can go over and look at CSA Manitoba for your resources.
- Ontario: Ontario CSA Directory is your best resource. Ontario has a LOT of plans. (It is a huge province after all!)
- Quebec: Equiterre is your best bet. The link is in English, but the site is native French for those that care about that sort of thing. (You’d have to live in Quebec to understand what I mean by that.)
- Atlantic Provinces: The best resource I could find for Nova Scotia was Taproot Farms. I visited Nova Scotia this summer, and it has a lot to offer. For the others, the best bet is Acorn Organic’s Database of CSA farms. Apparently 85% of New Brunswick’s produce is imported, so it might be a bit difficult to find local produce. Prince Edward Island is pretty self-sustaining, and a quick jaunt over the Confederation Bridge might be in order. (If you don’t mind paying the $43.00 to leave P.E.I.!)
- Northwest Territories/Nunavut: I haven’t been able to find anything out there. I tried, but the closest I could find was something from Sweden. I know the growing period is very short there.
If you find it difficult to navigate the sites, or get the information you need, let me know in the comments below, and I will direct them to the web wizards over there.
In the meantime, support your local farmers, and get the best produce and product you can buy with your money!