It's not too hard to eat well and locally living in Caledon
Mayor 's Report
By Marolyn Morrison

Summer is in full swing and Caledon residents are lucky to have all the selection of locally grown produce at their doorstep.

Caledon is home to many rolling hills and scenic countryside, but if you look closer you will also discover that these hills produce some of the finest food in Ontario.

Eating locally is important for many reasons. It benefits the individual, primarily because the food is fresher and local food requires less additives and packaging. Ontario food boasts some of the highest food safety standards in the world. Eating locally benefits the environment because there are less greenhouse gas emissions as a result of reduced transportation-related pollution. And, eating locally benefits the local economy because money is being spent and stays within the community. Eating locally is a win-win for everyone involved.

To eat locally, you are encouraged to eat food that is grown by local farmers. It also means eating foods that are produced locally by local food processors like bakeries, butchers, wineries, etc. An easy rule to follow to eat locally is to try and purchase food that is produced and processed in Caledon or the Region of Peel. Sometimes this can be difficult, so you can broaden your scope to include food that is produced and processed in Ontario.

To make it easy to eat locally and support a stronger rural economy, you can visit local farmers and upicks for fruits, vegetables and herbs; purchase your meats, fish and eggs from local sources; and ask your favorite restaurant and local grocer what is locally grown/processed. Another helpful hint is to purchase your fruits and vegetables locally while in season and freeze to enjoy throughout the rest of the year.

At its Aug. 5 meeting, council was to review a pilot project that could create a shuttle bus operation to transport Caledon residents from Bolton to various upick agricultural operations located in Caledon. As part of the Town's strategic initiatives, staff along with various community groups have investigated this idea as a means to promote eating locally, supporting the local economy and reducing transportation related pollution. If approved by council, the shuttle service will operate every Saturday from Sept. 13 to Oct. 25. It will depart from the Albion-Bolton Agricultural Society Fairgrounds and visit three locations in Caledon with pre-determined pick-up times. For more information on this initiative, please visit our Web site or watch for future advertisements within the local papers.

The Caledon Countryside Alliance continues to promote eating locally through their many initiatives. Recently, they have established a farmers market in the Village of Inglewood every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. They also produce a monthly Eat Local Caledon newsletter with wonderful tips on how to eat local, events and great recipes. For more information about eating locally, please visit their Web site at www.caledoncountryside. org

Another great tool to help residents eat locally is the 2008 edition of the Grown in Peel guide that is available at Town Hall and the website growninpeel.ca

This detailed map provides a listing of local farms, u-picks and more. Complete addresses and hours of operation are listed on the maps, including the seasons that produce is available.

Visiting a local farm is a great family outing and a fantastic way to teach our children about food.