Small scale food production survey

[Pig Whisperer]

The Manitoba gov is currently looking for input regarding small scale food production and processing.

I'd encourage you to fill out the questionnaire if you have time. You can find info at the following page.


www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/food-and-ag-processing/small-scale-food-manitoba.html

[niglefritz]

Got in under the wire. I only saw this post today.  

I just hope that they listen to inputs and don't ignore the general public and producers themselves.

By the way, I suggested that they have an independent association of small-time producers/vendors that would elect board members from their own group, who in turn would determine regulations/guidelines for their association, without govt. interference/involvement. What do you think about that? They are determined to implement something anyway, but did not give this as a clear choice, so I suggested it. I hope others did too. They had it worded as "industry standards" which I read as large and small grouped in one big mess, with the major money makers holding the sway and stepping on the little guy. The small farmer/producer/vendor would get lost in the bureaucracy I think if they went this route.

I had suspicions that this might be coming shortly. I had filled out a MB Food Panel survey a month or so ago, and it had some vague wording on certain things as well. I also think that it was interesting that both asked about people selling/buying dairy products from farmer's markets and through direct marketing. They are certainly fishing, and most will not publicly admit to that going on.

I think that as small producers (we are getting there...), we all need to be cautious about what they are wanting to push through and make sure that rights are not stripped away, albeit quickly or slowly. We need to make our collective voices heard and stand by what we have to say. It is our heritage and it is our country's future and well being at stake, both health wise and economically.