Local 341: Oxford & Perth Counties

Executive & Contact:
George Stevers (President,  5146 Line 44, RR # 2, Gadshill, N0K 1J0,
519-393-6855)
Vacant - (Vice President)
Ann Slater (Sect./Treas., R.R. 1 Lakeside, ON  N0M 2G0, 519-349-2448, aslater@quadro.net)
Pam Megens - Director
Hans Straube - Director
Mary Lynn Stevers - Director
Andy Megens - Director
Kevin McComb - Director

The Perth/Oxford Local of the National Farmers Union has a long standing interest in the survival of small, locally-owned and operated, provincially-inspected abattoirs in our community and across Ontario. Small, multi-species abattoirs are essential to the survival of family farms and rural communities.

Help Save Our Small Abattoirs
 

Update on Small Abattoirs - letter from Minister received April 21, 2010:

The Perth/Oxford Local received a letter from the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.  The letter is dated April 15, 2010.

From the letter:  "I understand how important local abattoirs and meat plants are for livestock and poultry producers, and the local economy.  Yet we need laws to protect everyone who buys meat and poultry products."

Also, "The Ontario Independent Meat Processors (OIMP) has stated, 'The decline in the number of abattoirs over the years (196 in 2003 to 168 in 2008) is related to a number of issues including the decline in livestock production ... additional charges to deal with the removal of specified risk material due to federal regulations, no succession plans, ... failure to reinvest in their businesses, other regulatory burdens from Ministry of Environment..Ministry of Labour, and municipal bylaws.' "

The full letter is attached below.

Is Staying Small a Luxury?

an op-ed article by Ann Slater, NFU Board Member
the full article is attached below
 

Some individuals and organizations have put forward their opinion that if small abattoirs would just make the investment to grow their business and get bigger, then they would not be facing the struggle to survive. The suggestion has also been put forward that staying small is a luxury when it comes to small abattoirs.

Some abattoirs need to be able to stay small, so that they can continue to meet the needs of farmers who provide meat to the growing numbers of eaters committed to local food across the province. Farmers interact with small abattoir owners on a daily basis and know they are committed to safe food, and are hardworking, honest and trustworthy. They also know many small plants are working at, or at close to, full capacity and each time one small plant closes, our options as farmers to increase the amount of meat we sell to local markets decreases. For farmers selling local food the ability of small abattoirs to stay small and survive is not a luxury – it is a necessity for the survival of our relationships with our customers and the survival of our farms.

Local Abattoirs are Crucial for the Local Food Movement

The Loss of Small Abattoirs:

Small abattoirs across the province are struggling to survive for a variety of reasons. However, lack of demand for their services is not one of them - most small abattoirs and small meat processors say they are busier than ever. Some small abattoirs in the Perth/Oxford area are planning to close in the near future and others are questioning how long they can continue to operate.

No Local Meat without Small Abattoirs:

There is widespread and growing support for local food from all levels of government, and from farmers, chefs, culinary tourists, small retailers and the general public. A short food chain from farmer to local abattoir to consumer, helps keep family farms viable, supports small businesses in our rural communities and provides consumers with healthy, nutritious, delicious food produced by people they know and trust.

The loss of small abattoirs is a challenge for the family farms in Perth and Oxford counties and across Ontario raising meat to sell at farmers’ markets, to restaurants, to retailers and direct to those consumers committed to eating local meat. Each time a small, local abattoir closes its doors, we all lose access to local meat.

Safe Food:

The National Farmers Union is committed to providing safe food. We recognize that effective regulations and government inspection programs protect family farms, consumers and food processors. The NFU has consistently been critical of government moves to deregulate or cut back on food safety programs and inspections, especially at large plants or at the border. We believe small abattoirs which have an inspector on-hand when each animal is killed can provide safe food for our families, our customers and our communities.

What Can You Do to Help Save Small Abattoirs?

Contact Politicians:

Tell the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and your local MPP why small, locally-owned and operated, provincially-inspected abattoirs are important to you. Ask them to help save small abattoirs in your community and across the province. Email - minister.omafra@ontario.ca

Honourable Carol Mitchell

Minister Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Public Archive Building

77 Grenville St., 11^th Floor

Toronto, ON

M5S 1B3

Buy Local Meat:

Buy locally produced and processed meat either direct from farmers’ or from butchers or retailers that purchase their meat from local farmers. When you buy meat at a butcher shop, at a supermarket, at a health food store or at a farmers’ market ask where the meat came from and who raised the livestock.

Ask for local meat when you go out to eat - many restaurants in Perth and Oxford serve meat from local farmers, ask which menu choices use local meat.

How much are you willing to pay?

Consider whether or not you are willing to pay more for local food, which is often fresher and therefore healthier and more tasty. When you purchase local food you are eating food raised and processed by people you know and trust. The individual attention small, local farms, abattoirs and meat processors give to your food takes time and increases the value of local food.

Spread the Word:

Let others in your circle of friends, family, co-workers and neighbours know about the importance of small, local abattoirs to the local food movement. Ask them to act as well.

Save Our Small Abattoir postcards are available from the Perth/Oxford Local or from Karen Eatwell at the NFU Ontario office.
 

OR

You can print and send the attached letter to the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Hon. Carol Mitchell.   The message in the letter is below.

Small, locally-owned and operated, provincially-inspected abattoirs are a key ingredient in safe, local food.  They provide a crucial link between livestock farmers and the local food movement.

As farmers, meat processors and consumers committed to local food, we are afraid that small, provincially-inspected abattoirs are disappearing from our communities.
 
 

You can also print the attached document 'Save Our Small Abattoirs - What Can You do' to hand out to your customers, friends and family.