Let’s Taste Canada

Farm Funding: Linda

Linda speaks about growing up on a farm, and how her career helped her inform her current support for ongoing farming. There are many topics discussed regarding eating food, farming, and well educated conversations about the food system – even discussing a PhD article from 1851 to 1991.
Here are a few quotes: 
We need to be educated about the situation regarding our food.
I am thrilled to be able to work with some of the hardest working people that you’ll find anywhere.. I don’t think people realize how many hats people have to wear
Farmers are choosing to sell the land because that is their pension… the average age of a farmer … is 57… we have all kinds of land that is no longer in production… there are way too many barriers to entry.
I would say that food is a key to rural economic development and it is vastly underutilized.
We have now loaned over 1.9 million… 112 loans to 72 businesses
The bottom line for farmers is not what it should be. When you see people investing their money in order to get a 6, 10, 12% return on investment, farmers would love to be able to even know they would get a 5 or even a 3, or 5% return on their investment
I read the statistics, that the good news was that … the remaining.. producers …instead of basically actually paying us 3 cents on the dollar to eat their food...
Regulations are becoming more and more stringent. I think that the best possible regulation is for me to buy from someone I know and buy the best food I can because it is grown here with all of the qualities I mentioned
We need to raise awareness ...who has some discretion around their spending were to switch just 10%, and 50% would be wonderful … from whatever is cheapest to whatever is local… everything that we do helps. 
If we believe in ourselves and want to support ourselves… we have billions and billions of dollars which are building other people’s economies.
The quality of food that we can produce... there is no comparison between the taste of good food 

MINI - Food Access

A second quick very short edit over the holidays! A bit of short conversation! 
A quick note that many food banks, along with many other programs also do wonderful work tirelessly to support families over the holidays and many have worked to support including the person in the process however it is a good reminder to be practical, action oriented however these are all good things to think about both the provision of support and how we can apply it.
This podcast is meant to provide many perspectives to consider to either deepen beliefs as you may disagree with something provided or include new ways of thinking in a super lighthearted way even though they are important conversations. 
Happy Tasting! 

MINI - Respect- Value Food

Over the holidays I thought just a minute episode would be a nice reduced option in a busy time.
I recommend taking time you may have spent listening over the holidays with your loved ones! And please consider going back to listen to another podcast that you may not have listened to last time! 
May people who are enjoying a good meal be grateful and people who may wish for more food know that you matter.
If you celebrate - I hope you have a wonderful time. If the holidays are challenging for you - I hope you are kind to yourself.

Paul Moores: Lobster Rolls Food Truck, Food Safety & Food Processing

Take a listen to Paul Moores who speaks to a wide variety within a career. There are excellent comments on being excited about lobster, food safety  training, including in restaurants.
Since having completed this podcast - he now owns Shediac Bay Cruises:www.shediacbaycruises.ca
Here are some quotes:
There are many numerous lobster processing facilities here so there was one right on the wharf here. They still hold lobster here...  they will process a fair amount of lobster and ship all over the world.
Food access ... most people see grocery stores as access. More people are looking at community farms, markets, we do local rather than supermarket...  and there are becoming more access to local products.
I see a little bit of food safety... I mean I do a lot of training for people in food banks... I know there are a lot of security issues for people to get a safe healthy meal. 

Tim - Farmer

Tim speaks so well that I was enthralled about his farming experience, the importance of soil, the loss of honeybees and how pollination is super important to help support agriculture and food in Canada. Please do take a listen to a wonderful expert on agriculture and farming

Chef Michael Smith

Chef Michael Smith

The Flying Apron with Chef Chris Velden

Chef Chris Velden, co-owner of the Flying Apron Inland Cookery in Summerville, Nova Scotia, shares the origin of their inn and restaurant, the challenges of opening and renovating, and the joys of sourcing locally from nearby farms and producers.
This episode explores sustainable seafood and Ocean Wise, food security, Slow Food, the realities of life in professional kitchens, and practical advice for anyone who wants to cook, learn, or build stronger food communities.

From some cute kiddos!

Welcome to a refreshing child's view of food - I learned a ton!
What an incredible way of looking at food, sharing food, and enjoying the garden. I will let these lovely ladies speak for themselves. I hope you find it as enjoyable as I did! 

Juliana Health Director - Paq'tnkek Community

Juliana beautifully describes the importance of a celebratory mother's day feast, her love of food both for simplicity and complex flavours with different dishes in a wonderful way.
yes, actually [I do love food] and I am for one person I am tired for apologizing for that, I do love food, I genuinely do…”
"In a first nations community that there is a lot of work being done on food security, just like any other first nation community all across Canada, they're all doing work on food security because they know it is an issue."
“Green beans are meant to be sweet… I didn’t realize that until you know like an adult…  they are meant to be really nice and sweet they are really a sweet bean, and you don’t realize that until you grow it, pick it, taste it…”
"My whole family was very very into it... they bought into the whole idea and I think that when I stopped buying into it, my family stopped buying into it... and that's a lesson for everybody is if you want your kids If you want your kids to be into certain type of things, know where their food comes from, and know what they're eating and stuff, you can't do that without you participating in it... it's different that's for sure."
"we have a community feast every mother's day... it is a community gathering, it's people spending time together, it is people socializing, it's people chipping in and helping one another, it's mom's, it's the youth getting out and serving the mom's, it's the mom's to be getting used to the idea of coming to a mother's feast."
“It’s a real enjoyable community mother’s day feast… it started out little and it grows.”

Chef Jeremiah S

Previous chef Jeremiah from Reluctant Chef NL several years ago (pre-Covid) spoke about his time and strategy to accommodate some beautiful meals.