Bioregionalism

For the past few months I have been making a list of foods I can eat (in Fredericton) on the 100 mile diet…and comparing the list to foods I can eat on the Bioregion diet.

The Bioregion diet was a term given to me by Speelville Mills. I googled Bioregionalism and....everything clicked. I am not limiting my choices, I am making choices that help strengthen the economy, locally and regionally. Most of the foods I buy are from Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI.

Here are a few quotes from their site:

What is bioregionalism?

"Bioregionalism is a fancy name for living a rooted life. Sometimes called "living in place," bioregionalism means you are aware of the ecology, economy and culture of the place where you live, and are committed to making choices that enhance them".

Bioregional eating

"Food is a basic necessity of life. One of the highest-impact actions you can take is to buy food grown locally and organically whenever you can.

If you live in a place that doesn't have a year-round growing season, ask yourself if you really need to eat lettuce or fresh strawberries in December, or if you could enjoy feasting on vegetables and fruits from the root cellar and locally-grown food frozen, canned or dried from the summer's harvest. Eating a diet appropriate to the climate not only avoids the costs and damage of transporting food; it is also healthful and wise."

I decided not to post the food lists. Once I started reading the Bioregion site…I just didn’t see the purpose to the lists. It is not about what you can and cannot have…it is about how you want to live.

This year has been all about how I could actually change the way I purchase food for all seasons.

Bioregionalism has been around for a long time. I have been trying to live it for the last few years…I just didn’t know it had a name.

http://www.greatriv.org/bioreg.htm

And the Winner is.......

Sobeys on the north side.

This morning was busy. I had appointments and errands to run. I also had to buy a few groceries and pick up wine. I debated whether to go to the south side Superstore, about 3 blocks away, or drive to Sobeys on the north side. I knew it would be busy everywhere and time is precious. I chose Sobeys.

I clocked myself as I left the house. I drove to the north side, picked up the wine, then parked in front of Sobeys. I found everything I needed, plus I had asked for help in finding one item. Mission accomplished. I returned to the car and headed home. I looked at the clock as I entered the kitchen…I had been gone 38 minutes.

This has to be the best place to shop in Fredericton.

My top ten Canadian picks for 2008

1. Speelville products ( August 4 post)
2. Carrots from the market ( Oct.29 post)
3. Apples ( Nov. 25 and April 27 post)
4. Yogurt from the market ( Oct. 29 post)
5. Dare Grains first snack crackers( Feb. 11 post)
6. Northumberland Max Apple Cranberry juice (Jan.24 post)
7. Pelee Island wines (March 13 post)
8. Cultures de Chez Nous Leeks ( Jan. 14 post)
9. Kamut pasta (Nov. 11 post)
10. New Brunswick pears ( Sept.6 & 7 post)

No Waste

This year I have really been using my slow cooker. I use it to make my apple/rhubarb sauces, soups, meals….and the newest one…. (and maybe the best)…porridge. I have tried a lot of new recipes, especially meals…always hoping for leftovers.

I love being able to stretch a meal into at least two. One thing I found by purchasing only Canadian…is our fresh products cost a bit more. I still buy them, but will try to make them go further as well.

So, between the slow cooker, and stretching fresh produce…I have found meals can be simpler and healthier. Our portions have certainly become smaller.

I feel I have appreciated my food this year. I certainly don’t feel I wasted my time…or my food.

Garlic and Wine

Last Christmas, I was given a fantastic book “Cooking with BC Wine”…by authors Troy and Cheryl-Lynn Townsin. It is a guide to the wineries of British Columbia. I hope to visit a few wineries some day, until then, I will continue to drink their wine…….and occasionally use it for cooking.

There are many great recipes in this book using BC wine. Below is the best pork roast recipe I have ever tried. And the easiest.

Garlic Roast Pork

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 cup BC Pinot Noir
5 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried oregano
1 boneless pork roast (5-6 lbs)
6 garlic cloves, halved

1.In a small bowl, mix together crushed garlic, rosemary, oregano and BC Pinot Noir. Place roast in a large plastic or glass container, add marinade and cover. Marinate overnight.

2.Preheat oven to 325 F. Transfer pork roast to a Dutch oven. Make 12 1-inch slits in the meat with a sharp knife and insert a garlic half in each slit. Pour marinade over the meat and cover.

3.Roast for 35 minutes per pound or until a meat thermometer inserted into the centre of the roast reads at least 160 F.

4.Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

Just Sayin……

Well…it is December, and in a few weeks my little project will come to an end. It certainly doesn’t feel like a whole year….and it really doesn’t feel like a project. It is just a natural way of shopping.

I want to mention brand names. There are many top brands in our grocery stores that have Canada on the packaging…I try to avoid most of those. The only “big” brand names I purchase are McCain’s and President Choice. I have not been purchasing brand names like Kraft, Campbell’s, Heinz etc. Most of those brands have US/Canadian companies but I am just not sure about the crossover.

When I am shopping, I am hoping to find a Canadian business, local if possible. I have found quite a few new products. The seed butters, pastas, potato chips, Speelville products and a few varieties of apples have all been very tasty and worth the switch. Most are organic; all are Canadian businesses and products.

There are Canadian products in our stores. We just have to look for them. I hope by naming them on this blog, they will be easier to find. It is worth the effort.

Just sayin……

Not Jean Luc...

Wow.....we do grow peanuts in Canada. Picards peanuts. The things I learn from having this blog. Thank you so much for sending me the information. I have not checked the entire site ...just the section on how they grow peanuts in Ontario. I certainly will be looking for this product...and if I cannot find it, I will ask local grocers to start supporting this company. Wow....peanuts in Canada. Check this site out....

http://www.picardspeanuts.ca/about-us

Best and Last

I can't believe this is the last day of November. My favorite November day. It is sunny and mild......you can't beat that. However...you can beat the price of Honey Crisp apples in Fredericton. They are cheaper in Saint John. Am I surprised?

Honey Crisp ( not the cereal)

A few weeks ago (probably longer) the CBC evening news reported an interesting story about local apples. They were interviewing an apple grower in NS who grows Honey Crisps… a new variety of apple...at least to me.

So, I looked for them on my next canucking event. I found them at the south side Superstore. They are huge apples…and the sign?..product of Canada. But on closer inspection …on the tiny sticker on the apple..were tiny little letters...USA.

Where are the ones being grown in NS sold?

On my second visit to the Superstore….(this week)….I again checked their Honey Crisp apples…..the little stickers now say they are a product of Canada. I bought a few….and they are delicious. I assume these ones are from Nova Scotia.

They may just be my new favorite apple. Try them….but check the tiny print on the tiny sticker.

People…could we puleeze get our act together! Read the stickers…label appropriately.

Coast to Coast

I have just returned from visiting Vancouver(and family)…and of course I checked a few grocery stores. In the local SaveWay the fresh produce was labeled…but not the fish. Though one can assume their salmon is BC salmon. Right?

The nice little gourmet shop “Meinhardt” did not label anything. They have a deli, fresh produce, and lots of packaged foods. Since they are gourmet, the products are from all over the world. I did not expect a lot of local food…but I did think they would label the country.

My favorite food store in Vancouver is Capers. It is an organic grocery store which also has a deli, bakery and lunch counter. I love having my lunch there….they always have hot soups, salads, sandwiches, along with the best looking sweet selection I have ever seen. They labeled all their products.

Their fresh fruit and vegetables are split between BC and California. There were a few items from Washington..and Hawaii. I am not sure I have ever seen anything here in NB from Hawaii…but then…this was the west coast. I liked how they labeled what part of BC the products were from. I also liked their huge selection of apples. Wow. I bought Pink Ladies and Gala. I think there are four Caper stores in BC. I go to the one on 4th. It is the best place to shop, eat….or just buy a coffee and sit by the window watching people.

Check it out…….and their recipes.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/capers/

Oh…..and the mountains are breathtaking….every time I look at them.

Looking for aura in Fredericton

Aura Foods is a health food store in Fredericton. The products they sell are either all natural or organic. However... they are not so local or Canadian.

I find the majority of their products are from the US. I think this has something to do with items being organic products. I believe, (but please don’t quote me), that to be certified organic, you must meet the US guidelines. This might explain why we carry so many US organic products in all our Fredericton stores.

Aura Foods carry a nice selection of wheat free products; breads, pastas, crackers, flour etc. Due to a few minor health issues I try to limit my intake of wheat to once a week. Since I have been following this regime for almost ten years, I already know the majority of wheat free products are produced right here in Canada.

A couple of new items that I found at Aura this year are pasta and the flax porridge. The pasta is the Artesian Acres brand of kamut spaghetti. It is delicious, organic and a product of Canada. The flax porridge is amazing. It is from Windy Hill Foods…..another Canadian company.

Question Period

Stardate….month 11. Shopping Canadian comes very natural to me now. But I do have a few questions.

Do we have any shrimp in New Brunswick? I can’t seem to find any local shrimp. According to my fish source…..there doesn’t seem to be any in the Bay of Fundy.

Why can’t McCain’s use local vegetables for their frozen products? It is a New Brunswick company…you would think it would promote local. I understand they need a high volume…but why don’t they employ local farmers. With help from McCains, the farms could increase their volume. I have only found 2 McCain products that use local produce….green beans and potatoes.

Why are products constantly being labeled a product of Canada…and upon close inspection…they are not? The only answer I can come up with..is that they just don’t care.

Why aren’t our grocers carrying more local fish? Or Canadian fish? Last week, I checked every frozen package of fish at the Superstore…and excluding scallops and local farmed Salmon….I could not find any that were a product of Canada. I don’t want to eat fish from China or Thailand.

Why aren’t grocers labeling our beef, chicken and pork? When I purchase a roast that is prepared by the grocer…I assume it is local ….I am probably wrong. I have to start asking. I am still learning.

Come Saturday morning.......

I am really not a big fan of our local farmers market. It is only opened Saturday mornings…and can be extremely crowded. I find most “townies” consider going to the market as an outing…a place to gather and socialize. When I go the market, my purpose is to actually shop.

And it is not all local. Quite a bit of the “fresh” produce is from the US……especially through the winter months.

I have visited a bit more often this year just to check on the availability of local produce. There are two stalls from up river (Hartland, Centreville area) that carry their own grown veggies…and they are delicious. But you can’t depend on them making the trek to Fredericton every Saturday through the winter months. But they do try…and their produce is excellent.

Of course during the summer months it is the best place to find local berries. Right now there are lots of local apples…..Lobo is my favorite eating and cooking apple.

One of the nice things about being a blogger and being public…people tell you about different products to try. One new thing I have been told to try… (and did)….is the Balkan yogurt sold at the market. It is almost as thick as ice-cream…..probably the best yogurt I have ever had.

The market is worth the visit…if you can arrive before 9 am. It gets a tad too busy for shopping if you arrive closer to 10. If I am planning a visit…I aim for 8:30…..lots of room to walk and make your selections, meet the vendors. Everyone seems happier.

West Coast

CBC recently reported British Columbia had had a good growing season this year. I wonder why we don’t seem to carry fresh BC fruit and vegetables in our grocery stores. In all my searches, I have only found frozen rhubarb from BC. The grocery stores certainly carry produce from California.....I would prefer BC. Especially since they have had a good growing season.

Eggplant and Pears

I thought I would check out the south side Superstore today.....and found pears from Nova Scotia...yeah. I triple checked. They are from Nova Scotia. I also found eggplants labeled a product of Canada...but on closer inspection...they are a product of the USA.

This store wins the prize for incorrect labeling.

Predictions

As far as I can tell from the polls...Michael McCain did not do as well as I had hoped he would. In fact...my predictions were way off. Oh well.....

I think as long as I mention Michael McCain...I can justify this post still being about Canadian food.

Going...going....gone

Well.....it appears the only Canadian fruit I can find this week are apples and cranberries.I have not checked all the grocery stores or vegetable stands, but would expect it is the same story. No more peaches and pears from Ontario. I missed the local market this past Saturday. They might still have local pears.

You can still find local squash, potatoes, carrots, onions, turnip and cabbage. But you probably won't find all of them at the same place.

In Fredericton, if you find something you like…it probably won’t be there when you return. Not all of the Sobeys carry the same products...nor do the Superstores. I can only find my cereal at Aura and the Superstore (south side). I find more Canadian produce at north side Sobeys....but check the south side Superstore. What I can’t find at one...I might find at the other.

Who is behind this annoying little inconvenience?

I predicted local produce would start to disappear by mid October. Maybe I should try and predict the election results.

Pease porridge hot

I love oatmeal, but I have not had great success in making a decent pot of porridge. Until now……and using a slow cooker. Just add all the ingredients (water, oatmeal, salt, fruit and any flavorings) to the pot before you go to bed, turn the pot on low, and in the morning your hot cereal is ready. It really works. I might suggest the next time I try this method, to quarter the recipe. Or have a Porridge party.

The New Addition

Isn’t she lovely? I haven’t given her a name yet…but already I am very attached to her. I really should have added her to the family last year……where was my head. She is about half full right now.......tomatoes, beans, spinach, grape leaves, haddock, shrimp, applesauce, peaches, pears, blueberries, rhubarb, strawberries, cranberries…with more to come. The beans, tomatoes, grape leaves and rhubarb are from our garden.

I caved......

Well...I am eating local farmed salmon again. I did not want to....I have not been purchasing farmed salmon for a few years. But fresh local fish is just too difficult to find in Fredericton....especially haddock. No one seems to know where the haddock is caught, even the fish guy at the market is iffy. So, I caved. Sigh…..but it is delicious. And local.

When things need fixin.......

In the last few months there have been recalls on produce (tomatoes, lettuce, etc) and now Maple Leaf products. In a previous post I mentioned I didn’t have to worry about tomatoes as I was only buying Canadian (the problem being in the US). That doesn’t work this time….in fact…it doesn’t work as long as we buy our food.

What can we do? We can start by asking more questions. We should know more about our food. Where it is from….how it was grown or processed. We also need to wash our produce….and then wash it again.

Is local food any safer? I am not sure, I would like to think so. I would like to think food is better if it is passed through fewer hands, machines and miles.

What can they do? Better inspections and better guidelines for inspections. And like everything else we purchase, our food needs to come with a guarantee. We do not need bigger and better….we need safer.

There should never have to be another recall on food.

I would like to think Michael McCain will raise the bar on inspections. I like him. I like that he has taken responsibility. In fact, with elections drawing near, I may just draw a box on my ballot and add his name.

Going......going

It is getting harder to find local produce at the 'Supermarkets'. I was expecting the decline in local produce to start mid October. This is too early.

I could only find US carrots at the Superstores....really...so soon? I did find Canadian ones at Sobeys...they are from PEI. I was away for the weekend so missed the market on Saturday...but assuming (and hoping) they still have lots of local ones.

Magic beans

I have no idea what kind of beans these are, or what to do with them. The little girl across the street brought one little plant home from school, and asked Kevin to plant it in our garden. He did and has been watching over it for a couple of months. The pods are almost a foot long...and the beans are red...and quite large. Whatever they are...the blossoms are beautiful, and the beans are plentiful. We are drying the seeds to plant next year. Perhaps by then we will know what to do with them.

Yes.......

The market did have local pears. And I actually had a choice. Local pears from Gagetown or Prince William. I am not sure of the distance....which is closer...but Gagetown was the winner.

And today I am trying to freeze a few...( thanks to the emails).

Upper Canada

I am really enjoying all this fresh produce. ( Fresh…not frozen….fresh… products from NB and Ontario). I may be eating my weight in peaches and pears from Ontario. I can’t seem to get enough of the pears. Last year I had local pears from Gagetown, I have yet to find any local pears this year. Perhaps I will find them today. I plan on visiting the local farmers market and the Country Pumpkin in Maugerville.

I am also trying to find a way to freeze pears. They are not even mentioned in my trusty Purity Cookbook. I have made apple pear sauce....tasty, but I really looking for other options. Anyone?.... anyone? Brueller?

Looking out my backdoor

We are almost at the end of the growing season.I still see lots of green in my garden, though the grape leaves are starting to change colour. The little vegetable garden is beginning to empty. The beans, greens and berries are finished. What do I have left? only a few tomatoes and lots of cucumbers.

It has been a very successful growing season......I can't complain

Last of the Summer Wine

I can’t believe it is the last week of August. We are almost at the end of summer. It has been a very busy few months. Kevin and I have done lots of gardening, exploring, checking produce and eating.

Wherever our adventures took us…I have chosen fish for my meal. I could not pick a favorite.

We explored different markets in NB……and I still prefer the one in Saint John. But then I just like Saint John.

Last week we visited Speerville……and checked out Speerville Mills. I am not sure what we were expecting….probably a larger facility. But it’s a nice little business located off the beaten track. You don’t have to be the biggest to be the best.

Yesterday I visited the Superstore ….and they now are carrying local blueberries from two companies. One from St.Stephen and one from Nova Scotia.

I am finding too many fruits from the United States. We have grapes, plums, and peaches from Ontario….apples from NB and NS…berries from NB, NS. The selections from the US are huge …and you don’t have trouble finding them. Too bad. It should be the other way around.

Sobeys have started to label their local produce from the Atlantic region. I hope both Sobeys and the Superstores continue to label local and Canadian produce. This should not be just a summer thing.

This past Saturday we revisited the local farmers market in Fredericton. Lots of local produce, but I was more interested in the fish. I was looking for shrimp. The regular fish supplier carried shrimp. The huge lovely looking ones were from Thailand…..I wonder how many people are buying this shrimp and assuming it is local. I ended up buying a few frozen tubs of shrimp from Newfoundland. I have yet to try them.

I was also interested in their haddock. I asked where the fish was caught. She didn’t know and went to ask another worker. After a bit of discussion…the answer?….” Not sure, but we buy it from Saint John”. Really…..this is not good service. If you are not going to inform your workers about the product they are selling….then use better labels.

Would you assume produce is local if the label says “fresh”? At first glance, I did. I saw a sign saying " Fresh Raspberries", but when I checked the product label...they were from the US. Hmmm....tricky. So then I looked around at a few more vegetable/fruit stalls…and I saw more “fresh” labels.

Very clever.

On Blueberry Hill

August is blueberry season in New Brunswick. So I searched online for a bit of information on blueberries. Hmmm…according to one site, BC is the blueberry capital of Canada. Well…that may be…but I am pretty sure Pennfield is the blueberry capital of New Brunswick.

Pennfield is a very small town between St. George and St. John. During WWII they had an air force base and landing field. The landing field is still there…or parts of it. (In high school, it was very exciting to be allowed to go to Pennfield and watch Drag races on this strip).

I usually buy my blueberries at the local market in Fredericton, or if I am in the area….right in Pennfield.

Unfortunately, Sobeys seems to only carry blueberries from Nova Scotia and the USA. As for the Superstores…well I only went once…and the blueberries were from the USA.

While searching for information on NB blueberry fields, I found information on NB wineries. There is one in Pennfield ( Tierney Point Winery).I have had blueberry wine …homemade by a friend, but have yet to try any from a winery.

Tierney Point Winery
Specializes in blueberry and cranberry fruit wines. Their newest creation is a strawberry-rhubarb wine.

I was unaware of how many wineries we have in New Brunswick. Perhaps a visit with some tasting is in order.

http://www.winesofcanada.com/nb.html

The Times are a changin.......

I visited the North Side Superstore this weekend. I had not been there for months so thought I would check their produce. Initially I rated this store the lowest.

Well….I was very pleased to see a huge display outside….and another inside of all Canadian produce. And what were on the display signs?

“Grown Close to Home” Product of Canada.

Finally.

Tomatolicious

I picked up the “East Coast Living" magazine the other day. I was interested in the article on tomatoes. It did not disappoint, plus, I found this very easy recipe. I have adapted it to what was in my garden, my fridge and a bit lower in fat. The original recipe is courtesy of Craig Flinn.

Tomato Puff Pastry Pizza
2 shallots minced
1 onion minced
Low sodium chicken broth (¼ to 1/3 cup)
1 tsp of dried basil
¼ cup of dry sherry
¾ cup shredded white old cheddar
¾ cup of softened light cream cheese
2 sheets of puff pastry
3 cups of sliced tomatoes
Dash of salt, pepper and sugar
1/3 cup of fresh basil

Sauté the shallots and onions in chicken broth until tender. Add basil and cook for another minute. Add sherry and reduce liquid. Add this mixture to the cheeses and mix until smooth. Spread mixture over the 2 sheets of puff pastry, leaving a small border. Cover the cheese mixture with the sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle salt , pepper and sugar over the tomatoes. Bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes, or until the bottom of the crust is brown. Remove and garnish with fresh basil

The Unexpected

http://www.hopeseed.com/index.htm

This is another amazing site. And another wonderful business that I would not have found if I had not chosen to eat a little differently this year. Maybe this is not about what I am eating this year…maybe it is about what I will be choosing, eating and growing in the coming years.

Right Under My Nose

I am probably the last person in New Brunswick to find Speerville Flour Mill Products. Speerville is a small New Brunswick town located about an hour way from Fredericton, towards Woodstock. The company was started in 1982….and I just found it this year.

They have an amazing website and a huge selection of products…..I have tried their popcorn, lentils, flour and oatmeal. All delicious.

It is nice to know that since I have been looking for Canadian and local products I have found some amazing new ones…..it was about time.

Aura, Sobeys and the Superstore carry Speerville Flour Mill Products in Fredericton.

http://www.speervilleflourmill.ca/

Grapes of Wrath

We are very lucky to have two grape vines in our back yard. They are growing like weeds this year….completely covering the little arbor as well as half the fence.

We do not use the grapes…making wine or jelly sounds like too much effort, at least for me. Instead…we enjoy the late night visits from the raccoons….they have a feast.

However we do pick and use the leaves. July is the best month to pick grape leaves, at least in Fredericton. I have been told they taste bitter if you pick them later. I stuff them with a mixture of meat, rice, mint and tomatoes.

The leaves also freeze very well. I have packaged and frozen 100 leaves this year. They use very little room in the freeze….and require no preparation. Just pop them in freezer bags…about 25 leaves per bag. When you are ready to use them…just place the freezer bag in warm water, and in minutes they are ready to use. Very easy.

The Country Pumpkin

We visited a local vegetable stand this weekend…the 'Country Pumpkin'. It is one of my favorite places to visit for local produce….and boy…they did not disappoint.

Here is a list of the local fruit and vegetables now available:

Raspberries, strawberries, lettuce, corn, zucchini, broccoli, beans, peas, onions and potatoes.

This is the second time this year I have found NB potatoes. Usually, I can only find ones from PEI.

Plus, from Quebec- carrots…. and Ontario- peaches and plums.

Wow….what a feast. I guess if one was going to try the 100 mile diet in NB...mid July is a time to start. I will note when local produce reduces again…. I am guessing around mid-October

Strawberry and feta salad

I love this salad. I have made it a few times using berries and greens from our garden. Delicious.

Toss mixed greens using a plain oil and vinegar dressing. Add sliced strawberries....gently mix...and top with crumbled feta cheese.

My deck on April 02/08...and July 08/08

I dunno the same things you dunno....

The title is one of my favorite expressions...it is a line taken from a Corner Gas song.

I dunno....

-Why I can find NB potatoes in Saint John, but only PEI ones in Fredericton.

-Why strawberries are cheaper in Saint John then they are in Fredericton.

-Why gas is cheaper in Saint John then in Fredericton'

(That is how I saw things this week)

Yes, I have been to Saint John ...actually Kevin and I went to St.Martins. We left Fredericton on the day the humidex was to reach 43 degrees. I dressed in a lightweight top and skirt....took my straw hat and lots of sunscreen. On the off chance there would be a cool breeze on the coast....I took my jean jacket.

It was a lovely drive to St.Martins. When we arrived it was cooler....and foggy. Very foggy. I put on my jean jacket and we went to explore the caves. After about 30 minutes, I returned to the car while Kevin continued to explore and take pictures. I was freezing. I have no idea what the temperature was ...but we stopped at the mall and I bought a pair of pants to wear for the rest of the trip.

I love Saint John.....I always have. It totally amazes me that you can leave a hot humid Fredericton, drive an hour or so ...and arrive to such a different climate. It is always a nice surprise.

Quote time

These are a few quotes taken from the Daily Gleaner regarding the strawberry season. (July 5, 2008):

"There are only two local strawberries growers who supply to Fredericton area supermarkets."

"The cost of growing strawberries is about $2 per quart. Knowing it doesn't pay to grow them, many producers have gotten out of the strawberry business."

"Canada has a cheap food policy and we've literally beat the growers right out of business. This applies to all foods grown in Atlantic Canada, where between 97 and 100 percent of foods that are eaten here are grown elsewhere."

Well...that is not good news. We need more local produce.

Local is here

I can’t believe it’s almost the second week of July. The weather has been great….lots of rain, lots of sun, lots of heat. Our little garden is thriving. We are eating swiss chard, lettuce and strawberries. Still to come......beans and tomatoes.

We drove to Maugerville the other day to check the vegetable stands….both are back in action. They have lots of vegetables…but not a lot of local produce (yet). We bought local carrots, beet greens, and strawberries.

I am finally eating carrots again.

We are not producing enough berries to freeze, so we have to purchase them. At Sobeys, they are selling berries from Nova Scotia for $3.98 a box. A bit steep. The local berries in Maugerville were $4.50 a box. Steep, steep, but I do buy local whenever possible.

This morning the market is open, so we purchased more local berries. $3.50 a box.

I could say the price of gas has increased the price of the berries…but local berries cost as much if not more then imports.

Did I earn a passing grade?

It is the last day of June, and I am halfway through the year. Time for a midterm report.

The negatives:

-Limited choices/selections. Initially, I felt this was the grocers fault. However, now, I realize the consumer is the problem. (Supply and demand)As long as we continue to buy our fish, fruit and vegetables from other countries…why would grocers feel the need to change? We are the problem.

-I didn’t think about all the foods I would be giving up for the year….like peanut butter and rice. I also have given up items like lemon juice, soya sauce, and most condiments. I just thought I would try to prepare meals without them….I have…and I haven’t looked back. Though I will introduce them again….I know I don’t really need them…I can use spices and herbs (mostly local and home grown).

A few annoyances:

- Grocers need to work on their quality assurance. Labeling vegetables from Mexico and the United States as Canadian, is not just a problem, it is just wrong.

-I still need to double check the labels. And use my brain. With the new Harper ruling on labeling, hopefully we won’t see items like chocolate and orange juice, labeled products of Canada.

A few of the positives:

-I bake more…and make more things from scratch. I am using less prepared and packaged items.

-My staples which I make every week (apple/rhubarb sauce and a tomato cheese salad), I still find delicious.

-Northside Sobeys is still my pick for having the best selection.

-I have found quite a few new items to try, or substitute…and they have all worked out very well. Sunflower and pumpkin seed butter, kamut pasta and Windy Hill Foods flax cereal are a few new ones that are now regulars.

Final results? Well…I am trying to live a sustainable lifestyle…. in all areas of my life…not just food choices. It’s a good test for me.

Going Nuts

Peanut Butter is one item I gave up for the year. (But did not realize this until late January). In its place I chose nut/seeds butter from a company called “Nuts to You Nut Butter Inc.”. This company doesn’t seem to have a website, so, I will add the information from their label;

“Proudly Canadian since 1989. An ever-growing number of Canadians have been tasting the difference in our third-party certified quality products.”

“A product of Canada, manufactured by Nuts to You Nut Butter Inc.”

Address- P.O. Box 21059
Paris, Ontario N3L 4A5

I started with their Sunflower Seed butter. I am now using their Pumpkin Seed Butter. I love this one.

Very Berry

I had fresh strawberries this morning. Hand picked from my garden. Wow.....how good did they taste. This is the fourth summer for my berries, and there are lots of blossoms.

The Winter of my Content

This might seem like I am back tracking ….but I am wondering what happened to our spring? It is almost summer. Local stores are starting to carry a bit more Canadian produce. Soon there will be lots of choices….and lots of time to prepare for next winter.

Last year I was only thinking about the foods I would be giving up and finding alternatives. I didn’t think about freezing and canning items. This year…it’s a plan.

Though I could have been a bit more prepared, this was not a difficult winter. (I am still annoyed about our haddock and salmon…I do miss my fish).

As for the rest of my winter trials…..choosing totally Canadian just took a bit more time…and a lot more label checking. But it reinforced that we all can do this…we can choose Canadian…even when it seems like we don’t have anything in season.

One of my favorite things that I have been eating all winter…(I make this weekly)…is my tomato, cucumber and cheese salad. Dice a few tomatoes, a cucumber (both hothouse from Ontario), a finely diced shallot, and ½ - 1 cup of diced feta or cheddar cheese. Make a dressing with oil, vinegar and basil (your choice of herb)…mix with the tomato/cucumber ingredients and chill. If you make this salad big enough…it lasts for days. I often have it on toast for lunch.

It is a great salad…and now that I have found Canadian peppers, I have added this diced as well.

*And in this latest food scare…..my Canadian tomatoes are just fine, they have not been taken off the shelves

Everything old is new again

I was invited out to dinner the other evening...had a great time, and a great meal. I was served this wonderful salad.....lots of leafy greens ( haven't seen or had those in months) and strawberries.

As I said in the beginning of this journey, I was only purchasing Canadian food. When I am offered something, I accept.

I am not trying to force this lifestyle on anyone else.(Maybe I should have asked Kevin before I made that statement).

The salad was delicious. The flavours burst in my mouth. It was like trying something new...very interesting. I can only assume that eating foods in season makes you appreciate the more exotic just a little bit more. I, for one, will continue to eat mostly foods produced in season for two reasons. One, because I believe in this lifestyle choice...Two....for my taste buds to experience new ( old ) flavours.

TSE

I cannot find a Canadian carrot in all of Fredericton. It has almost been 2 months. They are certainly worth their weight in gold. An obvious error in spelling on the stock markets.

A perfect balance

Last week we were in Saint John. Of course we stopped at the market to buy yummies. Kevin noticed new potatoes so thought he would pick up a few to go with our fish. Just on the safe side....he asked where they were from...and..they were from Florida.

In this perfect world of Yin and Yang.....I assume somewhere in Florida there is a person standing in front of a stall of Canadian potatoes saying "@%@$#&!@...where are all the US potatoes"

Spring Thaw

In the past, I never really noticed when local spring produce starts to appear. This year, it was May 24. Rhubarb and Fiddleheads. Though I have been eating frozen rhubarb all winter….it was nice to see fresh.

It just smells better.

Every week, for the past 5 months, I have made a batch of either stewed rhubarb (using frozen) and/or applesauce. I make enough to last the week. There is nothing like a bowl of warm stewed rhubarb and applesauce, topped with yogurt. It is one of my favorite things to eat. Total ambrosia.

Having such a sweet tooth…I thought I would miss my cakes, ice cream, cookies etc. Or at least the non-Canadian ingredients. But I haven’t. I have actually cut down on my chocolate. My sweet cravings are very satisfied with my stewed fruit and yogurt.

So..what did I do with the fresh rhubarb? Well, I stewed it of course, and made a rhubarb cake. Did I notice a difference? Yes….besides the smell…it did have a tad more flavor.

Stewing fruit is so easy with a slow cooker. You just throw in the diced fruit, add a small amount of organic sugar, a dash of spice and turn the cooker on high. About 2 – 3 hours later….it is done.

With local fresh produce starting to appear on the shelves, it makes me realize how easy this lifestyle choice has been….except for fish. That one still bites.

Harpers Bizarre

I certainly enjoyed the CBC report on the Prime Ministers announcement to change the way food is labeled in Canada. (Especially “Made in Canada” and “Products of Canada”). This is great news. It also reinforces others are questioning the labeling process.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/05/21/food-label.html

I try to use my brain when I am choosing food……and .. I admit I make mistakes. But really……are there people out there buying orange juice and thinking it is a product of Canada?

I have not had any oranges since 2007. Nor bananas, pineapple, kiwi. I haven’t bought peanuts, rice, olives, raisins, coconut, …there are lots of things I have not been purchasing. I sort of figured out Canada does not produce these items…even if the packaging says differently.

I have been purchasing apples, strawberries and blueberries from Nova Scotia, cranberries from Atlantic Canada (?) and rhubarb from British Columbia.

Except for an occasional error on my part….I feel the majority of the items I purchase are Canadian. I check most websites and email companies for answers if I still have questions. The majority of the companies respond (usually with the answer I was hoping for).

That is not to say that we do not need improvement….we do..big time. I am very pleased Harper is planning to have the new labeling process in place by the end of the year. Until then, I will read labels, check ingredients,and ignore the unknown or obvious.

Carrots in perspective…

Well….I did drive down to Maugerville. I did not find any Canadian carrots. I did not find any carrots. The store was closed. I knew those roads were closed during the flood…..just because the water had receded…did I really think everything had returned to normal? On the drive down we commented that the water was still quite high. It wasn’t until we reached the store that we realized how little we were affected during the flood….but how others were affected. The store was closed….the doors were opened…. everything was outside drying out. (Freezers, shelves, storage units). We just stood there in silence. Almost in disbelief.

On the return drive….we then noticed all the garbage on the side of the roads. All the damaged items from the flood…well, at least the moveable ones. It is about a 15 minute drive….and we saw garbage piled up for most of the ride. It will take a long while for homes to return to normal for the people living in this area.

It was a very quiet drive home.

Canadian Carrots

I have checked every grocery store in Fredericton …and could not find one Canadian carrot. I missed the local famers market this past Saturday morning so now I will have to drive to Maugerville.

Hopefully the flood hasn’t affected their produce…and hoping they have Canadian carrots.

Living the Canadian Dream?

Last night while waiting at the check-out, I caught up on the latest Angelina news, plus noticed the cover of the Canadian Living Magazine…….Market Fresh… “185+ recipes celebrating local food from across Canada”. It was a tough choice…but I chose the Canadian Living Magazine. Once home, I sat down and started flipping the pages.

On the second page, there is a very nice editorial about buying local…..visiting your local farmers markets. Telling us, if we buy local…we use less fossil fuel. “We should eat local and eat Canadian”.

I was expecting great recipes using local and/or Canadian ingredients. Canadian Living magazine is always known for their great recipes… (any that I have tried…and there have been many...always turn out yummy).

I was amazed at the foods that are now growing (produced) in Canada. New Brunswick is definitely the weakest link. There seems to be many tasty items in other regions.

I certainly do not feel like I have been missing out on anything…nor have I had cravings where I thought I should end this lifestyle choice. On the contrary…I am very happy with my food choices. However, …it is nice to know the choices from other regions of Canada.

In flipping the pages and scanning the recipes…here is a list of foods I never knew were Canadian;

Figs, cashews, walnuts, almonds, peanuts, lemons, limes, anchovy fillets, raisins, olives, capers, long grain rice, arborio rice, soba noodles, miso paste, pineapple, chocolate, bananas.

I haven’t checked banana labels…just assumed they were imported…but now....I will be checking those little blue stickers. Maybe Chiquita is somewhere close to Chilliwack.

Why would we buy foods from other countries? We have it all right here.

Purchasing a prepared and packaged product

What’s on your labels?

A few simple definitions taken from the Concise Oxford Dictionary:


Manufactured - making of articles by labor or with machines on a large scale

Prepared - make ready for

Packaged – put together in a pack

Made – prepare, construct, accomplish

Product - things produced by a natural process


Except for a few errors, everything I purchase this year is labeled a product of Canada. The other labels….well…they just don’t cut it.

When I starting checking labels a few years ago, I only checked that the item had Canada on the package. It seemed enough. However, now, even if it says Product of Canada, we can’t be sure how much of the product is Canadian.

A few months ago (maybe more) I was watching an episode of Marketplace and Wendy was checking the No Name Vanilla Ice Cream which was labeled a product of Canada. I am not sure of all the details or the Canadian mumbo jumbo guidelines of food…..but the final result? Not all the contents of the ice cream were Canadian. Do all products of Canada follow the same guidelines? I don’t know, maybe Wendy does.

What I do know, is that it is time for the Canadian guidelines to change.

Until then,....this is the best I can do.

The Gala Event

I have probably been buying apples from Scotian Gold forever….well, certainly since Jan 01/08. They are based in Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia is known for their great apples. This year I found a new item..their Apple Snack. A prepared bag of sliced Gala apples in a resealable bag….that lasts for a few weeks.

The other night, a few ladies were over, and I just had to show them this tasty new item. I passed the bag around…so pleased with myself. And then I heard one lady say quietly…..” they are from Chile”…..I looked at her, and smiled, knowing she was joking….but no….she turned the bag over …and there in bold letters “product of Chile”.

It really is funny if you know me. But a bit annoying to keep finding little (big) errors in my purchases. To be honest….I don’t think I turned this bag over. I previously had checked their bag of apples…all products of NS. They grow apples …they are known for their apples. So an apple producing company would use their local apples. Right?

I checked their website…
http://www.scotiangold.com/

This is what they say about their business;

"We are a producer-owned apple cooperative helping to maximize our growers' yields and revenues. Through our 55 committed growers, we have over 2500 acres of apple production across the fertile Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia's agricultural centre."

Their website is amazing. Lots of information. I particularly like the page about apple varieties….what ones to eat fresh or use for baking.

There is a small article about the snacking apple…no mention of it being a Gala apple from Chile.

Am I missing something here?

So…I sent an email to them asking why they use apples from Chile. This is their response;

“Scotian Gold is a grower owned cooperative and we store, pack and ship the apples produced by over 50 local orchards. Our Scotian Gold Apple Snacks are a healthy snack option and we use the Royal Gala apple variety to provide our customers with a sweet and crunchy eating experience. At this point, there are not enough Royal Gala apples grown locally to supply our production, so we follow the Gala crops from one growing area to another. We move from Nova Scotian product, to other areas of Canada, to USA to Chilean. This time of year, the newest crop comes out of Chile and we bring them direct from Chile to our processing facility in Coldbrook, Nova Scotia. The apples are graded, sliced and packaged in our plant by local labor. Our growers are investing in replanting programs in their orchards to produce more Galas for Scotian Gold. Tree fruit takes 3-5 years to come into production, so we will start to see the increased local supply in the next few years.”

So….why not use a local grown variety which is currently available?

Again….am I missing something here?

Old seeds

On Sunday, Kevin and I attended an event held by Fredericton Heritage Inc. They had a panel of speakers discussing growing vegetables, herbs and fruits. We found it very helpful, and went away planting lots of ideas.

We are already organic gardeners……with so-so success (not a lot of fruits for our labor). This event may have given us just the right information for improvement.

I really enjoyed the talk on Heritage seeds. The links below are local nurseries and a few Heritage seed suppliers.

Seeds of Diversity
www.seeds.ca/en.php

Sweet Valley Herbs
http://www.sweetvalleyherbs.com/

Currie Greenhouses
http://www.5064448109.yp.ca/

Scott’s Nursery
http://www.scottsnursery.nb.ca/

New Brunswick Soils and Feed Lab
www.canadiangardening.com/cg_soiltesting.shtml

What's in your backyard?

Last night we had our first barbeque of the season. While adults chatted and sipped beverages, the children played in our backyard snow bank. They took a few breaks to snack…and to sing their bilingual version of “Oh Canada”…which was noted by a friend as maybe being part of a theme.

We didn’t have anything fancy…just hot dogs and hamburgers (But that is what a barbeque is suppose to be….simple and relaxing). Along with the protein, we had potato salad, sliced cucumbers, sweet yellow peppers, and Ontario wine. For dessert ....ice cream sandwiches (vanilla ice cream between Dare Chocolate wafers). All Canadian, and bought at the Northside Sobeys.

It is now the middle of April….though we still have snow, we can see green grass. The first of our local greens, fiddleheads, will soon be available. Have I crossed a hurdle?

The Return of the North Side Sobeys

Yeah, okay…. so Star War reruns are on the telly.

I returned to the NS Sobeys on a Thursday, a government payday. This would be one of the busiest shopping days outside of a Saturday. I parked right in front of the store…found a shopping cart…and was off. I had lots of time to visit each aisle..and I was impressed.

At first I was a bit disappointed to find their specialty food section not very large. I was looking for my wheat free flour and cereal. They have them…they just carry them with the rest of the flour and cereal. What a novel idea. I like it being with the regular flour and cereals.

At the Superstore there is a special section for the special food. I don’t think it works as well as Sobeys .

Three times I was asked by clerks if I needed any help. Really. I am not sure I have ever been asked in any other big chain grocery store in Fredericton. Usually I am searching for and having difficulty finding a clerk.

I bought tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, carrots, zucchini, potatoes and leeks. Usually I have to visit 2 stores on the south side to find all my fresh produce.

I had lots of time to browse, so checked out the can fish situation…..I could not find one can of Canadian shrimp, tuna or salmon. Clover Leaf and Gold Seal tins were all products of Thailand.

Sobeys dill pickles are a product of India…but Bicks pickles are a product of Canada.

When I had finished shopping, I actually found an empty check-out. All in all…this store tops all the others in town.

Also, since Fredericton decided to close their downtown Liquor store (on the south side), one has to travel up the hill and risk life and limb to visit the Liquor store in the Prospect Mall. Yeah, I know, there is a little shop beside the south side Superstore, but it doesn’t always carry my choice of wine. So, an added bonus to shopping at this Sobeys, there is a liquor store around the back….and they do carry my wine.

PHISH PHACTS

I received a suggestion from a friend to check Clearwater Seafoods. I have, and I have posted their link. They are based in Nova Scotia and sell seafood online.

I wonder if we can find their seafood in Fredericton…if not, then I am willing to place an order. I would like to try their shrimp.

I checked product information online, and except for the Argentine scallops…all appear to be caught in North Atlantic waters.

As for the Argentine scallops…..they were caught by Clearwater fisheries, processed on ship and brought to the market in Canada.

They are not a product of Canada. However, they are processed under Canadian guidelines and packaged in Canada.

I will stick to our scallops….they work just fine.

I wonder if frozen Highliner haddock is caught in Canadian waters by Asian vessels.

Still….the processing guidelines would be different.

http://www.clearwater.ca/inv-aboutus-e.asp?cmPageID=111

Spring in my step, not in my garden

Just in case I need a reminder of how my back deck looked the beginning of April 08. Poor Munroe is trying to find a bit of green grass to chew.

All in all……I have found the snow more difficult then the hunt for Canadian food.

Next year should be easier, as I will be more prepared…… for the grocery shopping, not the snow.

I stand corrected.....this time ( one and counting)

True to my word, I occasionally recheck products and labels. (The recent discovery of Highliners Wild Pacific Salmon being a product of China, still haunts me).

Last night I was canucking at Sobeys on the North Side. While I was checking the frozen vegetable section, I found my second McCain’s product of Canada. My initial search of McCain’s frozen vegetables resulted in only finding their potatoes being a product of Canada. Well, last night, I found a package of frozen mixed vegetables.

This was my first visit to the north side Sobeys in a few years. It was great…it may be the largest Sobeys in town. I visited early evening and it was not busy….only one person in front of us at the check out. This is my kind of store.

They carried the usual brands of Canadian products…fresh, packaged and frozen, but their selection seemed to be larger. Or they are unique in having their shelves fully stocked. This would be a first for large chain grocery stores in Fredericton.

I definitely will return to this Sobeys store to do my shopping.

Saint John has the market....on fish

This past weekend I visited the city market in Saint John…...delicious!

I checked one fish and two vegetable stands for Canadian content. The vegetable choices looked about the same as here in Fredericton. Lots of selections from Mexico, but just a few Canadian choices.

It was a very different story with the fresh fish……lots of choices. I was told the fish was all caught off Nova Scotia. Their fish looked delicious….and very fresh. I bought the Lemon Dill Haddock and a few fish cakes.

I visited a few other stalls, bought bread, cookies and some great snacking chips. I now wish I had picked up a few of the dipping sauces to go with the chips. I also found wine made in New Brunswick…it looked interesting, and a plus for any wine drinker who wants to try the 100 mile diet in NB.

It is a gourmet delight visiting this market.

Freddy Beach Fish

I checked Peter’s Meat Market on the north side. It also carries fish. This is what I found:

-Frozen shrimp and haddock from China.
-Fresh Canadian scallops, mussels and haddock.
- Frozen Canadian Boston bluefish

I asked where the fresh haddock was caught and was told it was "from" Nova Scotia. I repeated the question “where was the haddock caught”? The reply… “Well, it’s Canadian”.

Why is this question so difficult to answer?

Think about it.....

I love the comedy duo " Flight of the Conchords". My favorite sketch is one called " Think about it"..very funny. They are quite clever, making me laugh..and think.

I have been thinking about CBC today.

This morning, I was listening to the CBC news. They mentioned we should notice a decrease in the cost of our groceries. Apparently due to the high loonie. This is great news. Except a few weeks ago, CBC reported our food bills will be increasing due to the high cost of gasoline.

Think about it.........

The 1074 Mile Diet

The 100 mile diet. This is a great concept, IF you are living in an area that produces local food all year.

If you plan on eating only local food….if you plan on eating foods required in a healthy diet…… this might work year round in southern BC. Where do you buy fresh local fruit and vegetables in December if you live in any other province? Maybe other provinces carry more hot house items then NB. We don’t seem to carry very many here in Fredericton.

A few people assume I am using the 100 mile diet. That would not be possible living here in Fredericton, I would have an endless list of forbidden Canadian products. It would include my much loved wine from Pelee Island.

Pelee Island Winery carries my favorite wines. And they are Canadian. I tried their wine when my son and his wife were living in Kingston, Ontario. Every time we visited, we would end up at this classy little bar called “The Tango”. It was there I was introduced to some great Canadian wines. In fact, their house wine was from the Pelee Island Wineries, and ended up being my favorite.

Hmmm… to be a bit more realistic, I am on the 1074 mile diet. Actually, make that the 1729 km diet. (The distance between Fredericton and Pelee Island).

Great Expectations

I am marching into my third month, and am concerned with a few of my findings. I expected, by now, to be whining about missed fruit and vegetables. But, that hasn't happened. I knew I would be giving up items and looking for alternatives.

What I didn't expect, was to be giving up foods I previously thought were Canadian products.

What I didn't expect....was how difficult it is to find frozen Canadian fish.

I guess I never checked the labels. I just assumed the majority of frozen fish sold in our grocery stores were products of Canada. Living in New Brunswick....I probably thought they might be local products. Every package (that I have found) of frozen Highliner fish, is a product of China.

I didn't expect I would have to be so careful with frozen fish products. I assumed the stores would carry local choices, at least Canadian choices. I also checked the store brand packs of frozen fish.

I did my shopping at Sobeys and the Superstore. I thought it was easier. Well, it was easier, just not worthwhile. I can do better. .

Are We Products of a Food War?

Grocery day. I did all my shopping at the South Side Superstore and Sobeys (up the hill). Everything went smoothly, though I admit to a few yearnings. I bought all my fresh produce at Sobeys, even tomatoes. I still notice one batch at the Superstore labeled incorrectly. I give up.

Sometimes, I would like to do a "Rant" while walking down the aisles. I would point out the signs, the fine print, and question how we quietly became invaded and never even noticed. I certainly don't mind trying different foods from different regions and countries. I just am a little surprised at how few truly Canadian products are offered. At least here in Fredericton, the percentage is very low. Local grocers should strive to carry at least fifty percent of Canadian produced food.

I would have thought McCains would use local, at least Canadian fruit and vegetables. But this does not appear to be so.....everything seems to be imported except for potatoes.

As a Canadian, I guess this would be a good place to say...I am sorry.

I am almost into my third month. Except for trying to read the small print...this is not difficult. I just have had to change a few brands / choices and switch from mostly fresh to frozen. I do agree with Whitefeather in regards to Organic PC products. Most are Products of Canada. I found a few items I probably would not have tried or noticed.

I actually feel I am eating healthier. Normally, I would depend on my grocer. Now I am depending on me. Now, I make sure I am having my fresh/frozen fruits and veggies daily.

The Wild Wild West Is Actually Far East

The Wild Pacific Salmon that I have been eating, ....is from China. I have been using this product for over two years, trying to avoid farmed salmon. I really thought I had checked.....guess not. Perhaps I will not be buying any salmon this year.

A few other items I notice I may not be purchasing are; peanut butter, rice, Go Lean cereal, pineapple and bananas. I am sure there will be more. I am now using Sunflower seed butter. Last week, I would have said the jar would see me through the year...but in less then two weeks, I have adjusted.

Water Tips

Today is World Water Day.

Sounds fishy to me........

My sources (and I have very good ones) tell me haddock IS scarce along the Fundy Coast. The haddock, at the Fredericton Market, was probably purchased from Deer Island, but caught in Nova Scotia. This is not a big deal, Canadian fish is Canadian fish.

This past Saturday Kevin approached a different fish stall at the market. (They were set up outside). When he asked about their haddock, they said it was from Bedford, N.S.

Vendors need to be honest and informed about their products.

Turn on the heat!

I just went shopping with a project in mind: make a soup today that contains only Canadian-produced ingredients. I thought I might end up with a version of 'Stone Soup', but I was delightfully surprised by how many purely Canadian (and organic) soup fixins I actually found:

- Thomas' Utopia Brand Organic Crushed Tomatoes (in a can) I'm fairly confident that this is Canadian because it's certified organic by the Organic Crop Producers & Processors Ontario Inc.
- Sawler parsnips (from Nova Scotia, no less!)
- PC Organics onions
- PC Ruby Little Gems Red Mini Potatoes
- Maritime Grown carrots (from PEI)
- Kingsclear mushrooms (from just up the road in Kingsclear, NB)
- and, a turnip that said 'Product of Canada'

Turning up the heat on Canadian grocers and food providers can happen through buying exclusively Canadian products, and with my environmental consciousness, I also try to thrown in organic products that are produced fairly locally (regionally).

PS - These items were all purchased at the Smythe Street Superstore.

I Dare you

Feb 08

Canucking at the Smythe St.Superstore. In the past I have tried to avoid shopping here, but it has the best selection, ...so far. Once again, they had tomatoes labeled incorrectly….Product of Canada on the sign….Product of Mexico on the tomato. I have to find a better way of reporting this error, reporting in person doesn’t seem to work.

So, I tried the phone. I was put on hold twice, directed to the wrong department , had to hang up and redial ( repunch?). When I finally reached a person in the Produce department…and I had my little say..they replied “okay”.

Hmmm……..well…..I did only ask for one thing. I asked if they would double check their labeling. An “okay” reply is….. okay. I guess I was hoping to find someone like the shrimp guy.

Dare products are Canadian. I think, I hope. All of the Dare cookies and crackers I checked say Family Owned. Proudly Canadian, and Product of Canada. Really , I almost started singing " Oh Canada".

Saturday morning I visited the local market. The first vegetable stand had fresh broccoli from Ontario. The next vegetable stand I checked was a family owned business from Centerville NB. They grow and sell their own carrots, potatoes, cabbage, parsnips. A great find.

As I was leaving the market, I passed the "regular" fish guy. A good time to check their haddock. Canadian haddock has been very scarce in the last few years. When I asked where their haddock was from, they replied….. “St George…no….wait….Deer Island..yes it is from Deer Island”. I found this amusing as there isn’t a huge span of water between these two areas. Now, I have to find out if we are catching local haddock. I hope so.

Here I go canucking

February 6

This week I visited M&Ms, a frozen food chain. The first four items I checked had “Product of Canada” in large print. No need to squint. They carry 3 different kinds of frozen vegetables. I bought the mixed and the corn, both very tasty. The third, had “packaged in Canada”. I am trying to avoid those labels. I did ask to see their frozen shrimp ….all products of Thailand. However, most of their meat selections are products of Canada. I refused to check the sweet section.

Then, I dropped into Zellers and guess what I found? They sell Ganong chocolate bars at the cash. I haven’t been able to find any in the grocery stores. I have only been able to find the chocolates in the bins at Scoop and Save.

Sometimes it seems my focus is on vegetables and candy. Well, equally important.

I am now looking for some sort of snacking chip for Kevin. He has to cut down on his snacking (he loves potato chips, they don’t love him), so I am trying to find a healthy alternative. I haven’t had any luck finding healthy Canadian ones.

Into my second month

First things first. I want to thank Whitefeather for helping me with this blogsite.

I wanted to be on a blogsite for a few reasons. I needed a place to record my progress plus keep track of my selections. I hope this helps me to be aware of my choices, and shopping becomes easier.

By the end of the year, I hope I wont have to read all the small print!!

My first month is over.....I feel I have been as pure as the labels indicate. But can I believe the labels. I am not quite ready to go down that road. My husband, Kevin, wonders how pure I have to be for my health. He thinks I might get sick. I am not worried. Not only am I taking vitamins, I am also eating rhubarb, cranberries and blueberries on a weekly basis. That is pretty healthy.

Just like Santa, checking it twice

JANUARY 28, 2008

Oops..guess I am not finished for the month. I visited the Southside Superstore today, I needed to pick up a few things. Tomatoes being one item. And what a display I found….rows and rows of tomatoes from Mexico. Ahhh…but then I spot a pkg of 4….the sign reads Canada. They are expensive, but this is not about cost. I pick up a package, and ,just from experience, double check the small print. Well, the print was so small, I had to move to better light. After squinting for a few minutes I read…..Product of Mexico, not Canada. Sigh. I return to the produce section, and notice the produce guy right beside the tomatoes. I point out that the sign says Canada, but the package says Mexico. His reply was to go with what the pkg said. Yeah….well…..I put the pkg back on the shelf and left.

I find this type of mistake almost every time I am shopping. I always point it out as nicely as possible, but they really don’t see the problem.

My top pick, this month, is the Superstore Southside ....but they need to improve their labeling. My next is Sobeys up the hill...mostly because the worker tried so hard to find shrimp.

I have yet to visit the Health food stores, Northside Sobeys, and our local Farmers Market.

Canadian shrimp a bit shrimpy

JANUARY 24, 2008

Payday….and grocery day. This will be the last big shopping day for this month. It will also conclude my first month buying totally Canadian. It was easier then I expected. My biggest negative.... having to travel to different grocery stores hoping I can find my missed items. So, any effort in supporting only Canadian products, may be harmful to my health. ..(using the car more often and the loss of my fresh greens).

But I am taking vitamins….and extra vitamin C.

The time frame is a bit annoying, until I find my true brands. My problems this time...trying to find tomatoes and shrimp. Kevin found the tomatoes at Sobeys downtown…….hot house on a vine.

I did most of my shopping this time at the Northside Superstore…this store rates the lowest.

My greatest feat/defeat was finding shrimp. I tried both Superstores, but every package of frozen shrimp was from China or Thailand. Next, I tried Sobeys (up the hill). Again, more frozen shrimp from Asia. This was my third store, I was tired .....I probably would have gone home without any shrimp. But, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a young fellow stacking a shelf. I asked if they sold any Canadian frozen shrimp as I was only interested in buying Canadian. He could not find any. I thanked him and continued with my shopping. Twice he approached me with frozen bags of shrimp. The first bag was prepared in Canada, but a product of Thailand. He could not believe it wasn’t Canadian. The second package he brought to me...was a product of Canada. I really didn’t want to buy them, they did not look very appetizing, but I did. Why? Because this young man had gone to so much trouble, and because some day he may be the manager of the fish department, and just maybe he will try to find better looking (and tasting) frozen Canadian shrimp.

I do feel I made him aware of what is being sold in the fish department.

As for the shrimp. It said to rinse really well, and then add them to your sandwich or pasta. Well, I made pasta, forgot to rinse , and ruined the pasta. They had been frozen in heavily salted water. Now how do they freeze shrimp in China and Thailand without all this salt?

I found two new items that I am enjoying. One is a crumbled Feta cheese. The brand name is Silani. It has a great little recipe for Shrimp and feta pasta on the reverse. I am sure it would have been delicious, if I had only remembered to rinse the shrimp.

The second item is Northumberland Apple Cranberry Juice. It is cold pressed and very tasty. It does say it has added sugar, but total carbohydrates seem about average. It doesn’t say if they use Canadian fruit….but they are located in the Miramichi,….really…..they must be using local cranberries and apples. Please.

That is it for January. My number one miss….my greens. My number one find…the feta cheese.

Frozen food, well it is winter

JANUARY 14, 2008

It is time for some product/brand names.

I found my favorite sugar substitute, Splenda with brown sugar, is not Canadian…it is American.

As for fruits, well, I found frozen strawberries from Nova Scotia, Knol Farms. Canadian Frozen Blueberries, Europe’s Best. I checked everything on this packaged….it says Canada on the front, and product of Canada on the back…so I guess the company is Canadian, even though most of their products are not…just the blueberries.

I could not find fresh or frozen spinach. None Canadian. I found Canadian frozen broccoli and a package of frozen vegetables. Brand name - Arctic Gardens. I did find fresh leeks that can be frozen. I have often used this product. You can just grab a handful anytime you want. Brand name of Les Cultures de Chez Nous Inc.

I found Sobeys downtown had the poorest selection. Superstore on the Southside, not too bad, but my pick for this week is Sobeys uptown. It had the best Canadian frozen selection. I have yet to try the Superstore and Sobeys on the northside.

Spinach finished?

JANUARY 11, 2008

Ahhhh……yesterday was the big grocery day. I spent $134 on totally Canadian food. However, very little Canadian produce. I only found apples, potatoes, carrots, onions and fresh herbs. I guess that new recipe I really wanted to try with spinach and red pepper will have to wait. I couldn’t even find any frozen spinach. Hmmm..again…this was something Kevin could grow in his garden….all pesticide free….why wouldn’t we carry any Canadian frozen spinach.

My shopping was all done at Sobeys (downtown). I was disappointed.

Later in the day, Kevin made a run to the Superstore . He wasn't able to find spinach or red pepper, but did pick up a few items for his lunch. He bought his favorite frozen dinners. Alas, they were packaged in the US. You cannot return frozen food, and we really want to try and make this work, to live with our mistakes.....so... I threw them out.

I didn’t find this too difficult…as I have been going down this road for a few years…with just a few detours. I do see lots of choices for some lovely Quebec cheeses I am eager to try. Some are a bit pricey, but I will have extra money from not buying lots of fruit.

I wonder what my cholesterol levels will be by summer. More cheese and less fruit.

No Canadian Carrots today

JANUARY 4, 2008

Today I went to the Superstore on Smythe Street . I found Canadian potatoes and onions. They were out of carrots…and the only other Canadian veggies in stock were eggplants and cucumbers. Guess I will start looking for more eggplant recipes.

I also purchased bread, yogurt, sandwich meat and cheese…..all Canadian. All local items.

Canada rules, but can we find their food?

JANUARY 3, 2008

A new year and a new project. I am determined to purchase Canadian produced food for one year. With two exceptions. I have an addiction to coffee and chocolate, so I have stretched my list to include fair trade products. Since I have been involved with the concept of 'Fair Trade' for over 10 years, I will continue to support those products. I purchase JustUs coffee, tea and sugar....packaged in Nova Scotia….and now will only buy Ganong Chocolates (for the next year).

I volunteer at a shop which supports Fair Trade Principles. This shop is a great source of information, and introduced me to the concept of a sustainable diet. This was exactly what I wanted to be doing, eating only what my area, and/or country could produce. But alas, in Atlantic Canada, we often are not producing year round.

In the last 4 years, I have had difficulty, at certain times of the year, finding Canadian potatoes, carrots and onions. Gee….isn’t NB famous for its potatoes? We should have them all year round. And if my husband and I can grow onions and carrots in our gardens…where are the Canadian farmers? I started looking in the frozen section. I found broccoli, then I started looking at can vegetables, I found a brand produced in NS. It was a start.

For the past few years, I have been checking more and more labels. I ask produce managers if they have any Canadian potatoes, carrots or onions. I get different answers. I do see more signs on the food, someone else must be asking as well.

January 2008, the real work begins. My friend Whitefeather has agreed to help me start a blog.

I am eager to start.