At the March meeting, the Tweed and District Horticultural Society welcomed Carson Arthur for his talk on food insecurity.
Carson is the owner of Carson’s Garden and Market in the County and host of “Take It Outside with Carson Arthur” on CJBQ radio station. Many members of the community also attended the presentation where donations of food and cash were accepted for the local food bank in Tweed.
In his talk, Carson said every single person is entitled to available, affordable and accessible food. But this is not happening in 2026. Carson’s presentation showed the audience why this is happening and Carson showed why along with the effects it is having on our communities.
According to data, Carson stated that food prices have risen 34% since the pandemic and they are continuing to rise. Although 80% of our processed food is made in Canada, the issue is obtaining fresh produce. Canada imports 75% of its fresh fruit and 50% of its vegetables. With the American government saying, “US First”, food costs on imported items from the US will continue to rise as the demand increases and the availability of product to be exported decreases.
Obesity has also increased since the pandemic as people are eating more processed food and eating at fast food restaurants because the costs for these can be less.
Middle and lower income families are spending up to 30% of their monthly income on food. This has led to an increase in food bank usage. One in 3 families in our local communities is using food banks to supplement groceries. Seniors are also experiencing hardships with the cost of food.
“Buy Canadian, Support Local” is a phrase we are all familiar with. But Canadian farmers are unable to financially compete with the huge farms in the US, Mexico and Peru which means they are unable to grow enough food to support the Canadian market. And the growing season in Canada is only about 95 days.
So, what should communities do to address this problem of food insecurity? After WW2, people started growing Victory Gardens to grow produce for their family and to share with their neighbours. Carson feels we need to start doing this again…. growing food again for our families and “some to share”. Freezing, canning and preserving the food grown in the gardens means healthy food throughout the winter months. Food banks, programs like Fresh for All, community gardens and community garden stands are a few ways to help others in the community who are experiencing food insecurity.
Carson is involved in a program that teaches teachers how to teach kids to grow food…this is a means to prepare the next generation for the future.
In closing, Carson emphasized the importance of communities working together to ensure that every single person has access to food that is available, affordable and accessible.
LOOKING AHEAD….
April 7 @7pm…. Laura Moses, a double certified horticulturalist and founder of Fine Lines Landscape and Design will share methods of planting seeds in our gardens.