Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all.
Rather than going back to the energy piece, which is extremely important, let me talk more along the lines of “buying local”. In fact a number of you raised the issue, which I found extremely refreshing.
I actually live in Niagara Peninsula. For those who are not sure where it is, it's close to Niagara Falls; it's the easiest way to describe things, I think. We live in the middle of one of the greatest fruit-producing countrysides across this entire nation. It's a fabulous place. We also face the same challenges about things like buying local. For instance, we saw the last cannery east of the Rocky Mountains pull out three years ago--we no longer can peaches in the Niagara Peninsula--which meant that peach farmers pulled their trees out. Anyone who grew klingstone peaches in the peninsula basically said they were done and they pulled them out.
I'm fascinated by what you said earlier, Becky, about how we integrate. We're betraying your age, and I know someone mentioned earlier mature members of boards, and I would be one of those members, I suppose. Mr. Richards would not, of course. It's nice to have younger participation, and others as well.
Needless to say, I do remember a time when young women--when I went to school--took what they called “home ec” class. You've termed it “ag food science” in school. I wonder if you could sort of explain a little bit. I like the fact that you said “both” and “all”--meaning that young boys as well should learn--because I think you are right. There is a generation that doesn't know how to cook in a lot of ways, because for people like me--parents who get busy--it hasn't been passed along.
I'm interested in talking about that and about the local market aspect. I'll ask Jonathan to talk about the local aspect, as he seems to be the city one. I don't know if you know about what they do in Detroit, because Detroit is a dying city. One third of it is vacant, and they are turning it into inner city farms; not outside to the farm and bring it in, but actually in the inner city itself.
First, then, perhaps Becky can talk about that educational piece, and Jonathan can talk about farming close to the city and selling internally to the city itself as a local.