Food Trends 2012 Part Seven: Local Farmers Chime in!

Danny and Shannon Ruzicka from Nature’s Green Acres

Patty Milligan from Lola Canola Honey: A few things that I think we’ll see gain momentum (if not take off!) in 2012

• The land of milk and”¦.grain

Demand will increase exponentially for local, direct-marketed grain and dairy products, which are still usually considered large-scale commodities in Alberta. I’m thinking along the lines of what Gold Forest Grains, Mighty Trio Organics, and Johnston’s Dairy are doing. In the next year or two, other, similar farms will likely pop up in other parts of the province. BTW not only will the demand for LOCAL milk products grow, the demands for non-cow milk products will grow (sheep and goat). So will the demand for raw milk. I think we’ll see additional challenges to the law prohibiting the sale of raw milk in Alberta in 2012.

• Farmers make beer (instead of just drinking it)

A few years ago Alberta fruit-growers won the right to make and sell their own wine. Beekeepers followed suit a couple of years later with locally produced mead. They can both now sell their products in Alberta Approved Farmers’ Markets. (I’d see a couple more wineries and meaderies launch in Alberta in 2012). But what I’m really hoping for in 2012 is that at least one small-scale, possibly organic, grain farmer will lobby for the right to brew beer from his/her own grain! Who wouldn’t want to pick up local microbrewery beer at the friendly neighbourhood farmers’ market?

• Urban flocks and hives about to thrive!

Urban chickens and bees will move closer to being legalized in Edmonton and other municipalities across the country (where they are not already). We’ll see some really successful pilot projects kick off in Edmonton. The push for urban bees will be spearheaded by a public institution””perhaps a gallery or a conference centre will lobby to have beehives on its rooftop or terrace. Whatever way people feel about backyard bees, the idea of rooftop hives is irresistible to most.

• Hyperlocal Honey

As more beekeepers spring up inside and outside the city, you can expect to see hyperlocal honeys at farmers’ markets. The floral sources may not be identified but the exact location will be””you’ll see honey labels like these soon: “œMill Creek Ravine Gold” or “œBonnie Doon’s Best,” “œThe pride of 104^th Street,” or “œRange Road 234’s Finest.” Honey is moving into the realm of wine, coffee, and chocolate””a complex food whose subtle differences in taste are sought after and savored! Hives will be named, vintages will be recorded. I’d like to see a shop dedicated to honey open up but that may take a couple more years.

• Consumers and producers do-si-do

While the local food movement has primarily been about urban consumers and rural producers, we’ll see evidence of a “œreverse” trend in 2012: More urban producers will be growing and selling their produce (via farmgate, CSA, or farmers’ markets) and, at least in the areas around larger cities, we’ll see a renaissance of the smaller (but often long-running) rural farmers’ markets catering to more rural consumers who are also now seeking out local foods.

• First restaurants, then food trucks, next”¦..

In 2011, food trucks sprang up, providing a way to enjoy local food outside of high-end restaurants. We’ve seen at least one non-mobile concession get on board (Harvest Chef at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market). I think this movement””marrying skilled chefs, concessions in “œordinary” public spaces, and local food””will continue. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will spill over into rural areas especially given the success of events like Sturgeon County Bounty and Dine Kalyna. Maybe we’ll start seeing some fantastic local food at rural venues and events. This also forms part of the movement towards local, fresh, home-made food at cafeterias in schools, hospitals and other institutions.

• More farmers who are spring chickens

Looking around farmers’ markets these days, you’ll notice a lot more young faces serving you. There’s a boom, it seems, in young farmers and their families making a go of growing and direct selling local food. They are joining family businesses or they are starting out on their own. This trend will continue. Maybe we’ll bring that average age of farmers (51) down in 2012? The businesses that will thrive are those that have a strong partnership at their core””between friends, siblings, cousins, parents/children, or spouses. Those individuals going it alone will struggle””best find someone to partner with ASAP! And what will these folks be producing? Hmmmm”¦..

• Growing demands

Demands for several other foods will grow in 2012 including the aforementioned grain products and dairy products. I predict a surge in demand for local lamb and goat and wild game. In terms of value-added products, I think simple, traditional foods will be sought after””but with a twist. Foods like ketchup, mayonnaise, and pickles will be undergoing “œlocal food makeovers”. I bet that soon you’ll be able to find these “œexotic” products locally. Gwen Simpson’s move to BC leaves a big gap for local herbs and edible flowers; maybe someone will step in and fill her big boots? I’d love to see a couple new small-scale greenhouse growers emerge with cukes, tomatoes, and peppers. I’m hoping someone will soon attempt to grow and market local mushrooms on a small-scale. And the demand for local sprouts will also grow.

• Focus on fruit

We’re now pretty familiar with local protein and local vegetables. But, for urban folks especially, local fruits and berries (including wild ones) are still a bit of an unknown. Judging from the summer of 2011, expect the local fruit phenom to explode this summer in Edmonton in some wonderful ways: we’ll be buying, planting, grafting, harvesting more fruit trees in both private and public spaces; we’ll be doing more “œforaging” (aka “œberry-picking”), canning, pie-baking, wine-making, and jellying whether in groups (like OFRE or Slow Food Edmonton), classes, workshops, or on our own. We’ll seek out u-picks and presses especially for apples (think Sprout Farms). We may see more Alberta-grown fruit at Alberta Farmers’ Markets (think Thean Pheh, of Fruit Trees and More, who sells apples, pears, and plums from his own backyard at the Downtown Farmers Market). Value-added products will follow; we’ve got a few already (jellies and jams) but hopefully locally produced juices, leathers, dried fruits, and maybe some hard cider will debut soon.

• Wanted: A couple more CSAs and farmers’ markets

My guess is there is still probably room in the Edmonton area for a couple more weekday farmers’ markets as well as for a few more CSAs. We may see one or two debut in 2012. While it may seem that there’s a glut, not all of the areas of the city are served; plus they will provide outlets for the up and coming growers who are just putting their toes in.