Locally grown grub

Foodies are hot on the trail of locally grown fare.

For good reason too. Compared to transported food, locally grown tastes better, has a greater chance of retaining nutrients, supports local farmers, makes food shopping more fun when purchased at a farmers market or picked yourself and it’s way better for the environment.

There are some scary stats out there. The Leopold Centre for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State say that our food typically travels 1,500 to 3,000 miles from farm to fork, handled many times and emitting tonnes of carbon dioxide along the way.

The Food Miles Report put out by the Region of Waterloo’s public health department in November 2005 shows 58 commonly eaten imported foods travel an average of 4,497 kilometres to Waterloo, contributing 51,709 tonnes of greenhouse gas emission annually. If these foods were purchased locally instead, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 49,485 tonnes, or the equivalent of taking 16,191 cars off the roads.

Luckily there’s lots of good stuff growing within a 100-mile radius of Aurora in York Region, Ontario. Here’s how to grab yourself some of this great grub.

Links on the blogroll lead to some of the many growers and producers nearby. If you know of more send them along.

Other local growers not on the web.

Shirley and George Wiedemeyer: heirloom tomato and pepper plants and heirloom vegetable seeds: 905-727-0706; nrainbow@aci.on.ca

OTHER LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS

John the mushroom grower: No name on his business. Doesn’t even look like a business, but it’s on the southeast corner of Dufferin and King Road. Apparently he sells olive oil from his native Greece and honey from the bees he keeps as well.

John Snape: A beekeeper. Sells the resulting honey from his house in south Aurora. Phone: 905-841-0275.

Thompson Potato Farm: 19228 McCowan Rd., Mt. Albert, 905-473-3460. Email: thompson.potato.farms@sympatico.ca;

RESTAURANTS: Not only does Aurora have several great restaurants, but ones that are quietly serving locally grown food too.

Gabriel’s Cafe, located on Yonge Street, buys its local produce when possible Gabriel said and also serves capons grown in Sharon. It makes sense he says and something he’s always done. Address: 15218 Yonge Street. Phone: 905-713-6752.

Aqua Grill, also located on Yonge Street in downtown Aurora, buys its vegetables from Ron Van Hart on the Holland Marsh. The owner Steven Ho goes there twice a week to pick up fresh stuff from him. He even picks his own tomatoes. The restaurant makes its own gnocchi from scratch.

Steven also buys mushrooms from the relevant John above.

Address: 15150 Yonge Street, Aurora. Phone: 905-751-0778.

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Tags: apples, Breweries, Dairies, fish, Grains, honey, locally grown food York Region, maple syrup, Meat, Poultry, Wineries