As I read through The Ontario Table, I am thinking about this “Call to Action”- the $10 Challenge- that Lynn talks about. Last week I wrote that I would spend a little time showing how easy it is to meet this challenge. Here it is again: The $10 Challenge- “If every household in Ontario spent $10 of their grocery budget on local food each week, there would be a $2.6 billion dollar influx into the agricultural economy each year.”
Now, I categorize groceries in three ways: staples- what I buy every week; specialty items- meats, cheeses, condiments/preserves, etc.; and, rare items- things I normally wouldn’t buy, like avocados, bananas and orange juice. If we look at the first two categories- staples and specialty items- we will soon discover that, with a little shift in our selections, we can meet the $10 Challenge very quickly and easily.
In my case, staples are eggs, milk, yoghurt, oats, flour, pasta, apples, carrots, wine and beer. All of these items are grown/made in Ontario. If I shop at CulinariumTM (full disclosure here: I do), I can find most of these items, and all of my specialty items, and easily reach my $10 mark. I could also head to one of the major grocery stores or to a smaller food market and find Ontario apples and carrots, and possibly find Ontario milk, yoghurt, oats and flour. As well, more and more green grocers carry Ontario produce. And, of course, if I did much of my shopping at my local farmers markets (another full disclosure: I do), I could find lots of Ontario produce, cheeses, meats, bread, and even some prepared foods made with all-Ontario products. Perhaps the easiest- and most cost-efficient- way to meet the $10 Challenge, is to join any one of the many Community Shared Agriculture programs around the city that provide all-Ontario produce, such as the CSA program we offer at CulinariumTM (click here for more information>>>). Indeed, choosing this route brings me up to $25-30/week of Ontario-grown food. And, finally, if you like to travel around the province, like I do, making a point to stop at farm stands and markets, or opting for “pick-your-own” opportunities, will also help you reach your goal of purchasing $10/week of all-Ontario food.
Back to The Ontario Table. Lynn Ogryzlo helps make the $10 Challenge easy. On every page, as well as in a separate section towards the back of the book (“Where To Find It”, starting on pg. 298), she gives descriptions and stories of farms, programs, counties, companies, and wineries, complete with addresses, phone numbers and websites. She gives good mention to Foodland Ontario, and encourages readers to seek out the green symbol when shopping.
One last thing about The Ontario Table that I appreciate: the amazing resources to help one learn about the province and all it has to offer. I am not a native of Ontario. This beautiful province is becoming my second home, my adopted home. Living in a gigantic city like Toronto, it’s easy to stay put and not venture outside of the GTA (unless I’m heading down to the Peace Bridge). The Ontario Table makes it easy for a transplant like me to get out, travel around, and get to know my new home. The Resources section on pp. 312-314 provide me with a list of websites where I can find maps and information about counties and communities to visit all over Ontario.
So, please join us on Tuesday, June 28, 7:30-9pm, to meet Lynn Ogryzlo, and learn more about The Ontario Table and the $10 Challenge. We have books available for purchase, and look forward to seeing you over the next several days prior to Tuesday. Call or email us to reserve your spot for the Book Club event on Tuesday.
See you Tuesday. Until then, happy eating!
Jennifer, Culinarium Staffer