With a little nudge by a pandemic, the curtain has been opened between the consumer and food system, according to Toronto-based Nourish Food Marketing president Jo-Ann MacArthur. “For the first time (consumers are) starting to read about it. They’re starting to ask questions and they’re starting to understand that distribution systems are different for retailers […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
Ag not derailed during 2020
Abundant harvests that are setting new records for grain movement by railways show how Canada’s agriculture sector is helping the country get through the COVID-19 crisis, said an industry leader. “We know agriculture is a keystone of the Canadian economy,” said Jeff Nielsen, chair of the Grain Growers of Canada. “We’ll be there to pull […] Read more
Rediscovering rural life
Oliver Douglas thought Green Acres was the place to be, moving from a New York penthouse to a farm in the 1960s TV comedy. Hilarity ensued as the couple settled into a life in Hooterville. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is no laughing matter, but it appears to have created the desire in at least some […] Read more
Snowbirds get their wings clipped
When Canadian pop legend Anne Murray released her chart-topping single Snowbird in 1970, she could not have imagined the trouble that sun-seeking travellers would endure some 50 years later. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian snowbirds had their wings clipped in 2020. And with 2021 just around the corner, it looks like thousands of wary […] Read more
Finding ways to head south
Many retired Canadians are staying at home this year, but some have figured out how to make the trip work for them
CAMROSE, Alta. — Despite COVID-19 and a closed border, Gord Johnsen still flew to Arizona for the winter without the rest of the Canadian snowbirds. The warm weather beckoned, but close friends in the community of Gilbert, Arizona, are the real draw. “I have great friends,” said Johnsen, who has travelled to the Phoenix area […] Read more
The not-so-funny papers
EDITORIAL CARTOON WRAP-UP | A look at COVID-19 as it was seen in The Western Producer’s editorial cartoons this year
Editorial cartoon wrap-up – A look at COVID-19 as it was seen in The Western Producer’s editorial cartoons this year.
Learning to do and do without: heart, head, hands and health
The 4-H motto is “learn to do by doing,” and this year members have been learning how to do without certain aspects of their usual club activities. The global pandemic has led to cancelled shows, tours and other 4-H events across the Prairies. In March, COVID-19 hit the 4-H world like a late winter blizzard, […] Read more
Homeroom on the range
Georgia Pawlitza doesn’t need to catch the school bus each morning anymore and she doesn’t miss it. Having an extra hour to sleep in is awesome, said the Grade 11 Hazlet, Sask., student. “Riding the bus I’d either have to be up at 6:30 or 7, depending on what day the kindergartens would go into […] Read more
Local food in a post-pandemic world
Newfoundlanders don’t want to depend on other Canadians for food. A few years ago, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador set a goal of producing 20 percent of its own food by 2022. The would be a substantial improvement from the current 10 percent. “We are well positioned … because Newfoundland and Labrador is the […] Read more
First-time growers dig a new trend
More Canadians got their hands dirty this year and took up gardening. Pandemic gardening became the thing to do in 2020. Regular and long-time gardeners who couldn’t find their favourite seeds or bulbs last spring may have been mystified by the run on stock but it seems many rookies wanted to produce their own food. […] Read more
