As the Oct. 19 B.C. general election approaches, the Observer is giving Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding candidates an opportunity to share who they are and why they are running.

This week, candidates respond to the following: Extreme weather events, inflation and other factors have raised awareness around the importance of food security in the Shuswap. If elected, what measures would you pursue to bolster sustainable local food production while improving residents91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ access to affordable, nutritious food? 

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During the atmospheric river of 2021, we saw empty shelves in grocery stores in Salmon Arm.

It was harder to buy dairy with grocery stores handing out jugs of milk one at a time to make sure everyone had access. The tension was palpable. We are all concerned about food security and don91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t want to be in that position again.

The Shuswap Food Action Society has taken various steps to raise awareness of and address local food security and as a city council member I have supported their work. I have also supported creating a municipal food security strategy.

We need to make it easier for farmers to not only grow crops but to be able to bring them to market.

Grocery stores must be willing to market local products. Farmer91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s markets and farm gate sales must be supported.

One way the province supports this is through keeping land in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).

I would continue to support the ALR and work towards a provincial food security strategy. Meeting the needs of farmers and other local food suppliers is paramount in order to keep their operations viable. Without them there is no food security.

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Celebrating local food production and process has always been important to me as a store owner.

Right now, my suppliers do not deliver Canadian green peppers to me, they deliver Mexican green papers. Meanwhile, the Lower Mainland green papers get shipped overseas. This does not make any sense to me.

Establishing regional food hubs where farmers can sell directly to consumers, grocery stores and restaurants is essential to shortening supply chains, lowering costs and increasing access to fresh food.

Investing in local infrastructure and cold storage facilities will ensure that fresh produce remains accessible to all residents.

Supporting small-scale and organic farms will create a more resilient local food system, while protecting agricultural land from development is crucial.

Collaborating with local farms can expand food assistance programs, improve school lunch programs, and ensure low-income households have access to nutritious food.

Additionally, working with Indigenous groups to incorporate traditional knowledge into sustainable food production is vital for addressing food sovereignty.

Despite being a water-rich area, each summer agriculture operations face challenges around water access. Securing irrigation water is necessary for the long-term success of local farming.

Sherry Roy 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ Independent

The Observer did not receive a reply from Roy before deadline. 

Jed Wiebe 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ BC Greens  

During a recent conversation with a local food producer, they shared their experience from 2021 when atmospheric rivers 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ driven by climate change 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ devastated our highways. The Okanagan/Shuswap was nearly cut off from food supplies from the Lower Mainland. Thankfully, their farm filled the gap in supply to customers in the region over a 10-day period. Without their efforts, there would have been few options available.

This story highlights the urgent need to invest in local agriculture and reduce our reliance on external supply chains. B.C. must protect and expand farmland, diversify agriculture and implement a long-term food sustainability strategy.

As your representative, I would champion evidence-based policies that:

• Set binding targets to reduce emissions in agriculture, fisheries, and food systems.
• Expand farmer mentoring and knowledge sharing.
• Increase access to processing facilities for local producers.
• Redirect subsidies from the fossil fuel industry to strengthen local food systems.
• Build storage facilities stocked with locally-sourced foods to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-dependent imports and withstand climate-related shocks to our food supply.
• Support initiatives like the Land to Table Network, which improves local food distribution for producers, retailers, and non-profits.

By taking these steps, we can ensure BC communities are prepared for future climate challenges.

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Food security is most important, with local production, distribution and accessibility required to ensure all residents can obtain nutritious and healthy products.

We are fortunate to reside in a region where we have endless possibilities with progressive policies, responsible management and efficient distribution chains. I support increasing awareness and funding for small agriculture producers as well as reducing restrictive government bureaucracy. Increasing local production and encouraging processing could make local producers more competitive with reduced costs to consumers. In addition, there needs to be a long-term water storage strategy, incentives to innovate, and the ability to diversify products and services.

Our common-sense policy will double agricultural production. Our plan includes investing in agricultural technology, reducing operational costs by cutting red tape, scrapping the carbon tax and expanding market access for B.C.-grown products.

By boosting local production, the Conservative Party aims to reduce reliance on imported agricultural products, ensuring that British Columbians have access to fresh, locally-grown produce while also promoting environmentally sustainable farming practices. For vulnerable groups, non-profit organizations should play an integral role in developing strategies to obtain and distribute healthy food to those with limited resources.