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Holland & de la Salle Tell It Like It Is: “town planning turned its back on food”


food-for-thought-article-vancouver-sun-holland-salle
Our old friend Mark Holland (coolest radio voice ever) and his colleague Janine de la Salle have published a terrific article entitled Food For Thought in today’s West Coast News section of The Vancouver Sun. In it, they argue that “town planning turned its back on food,” with urban development nearly eliminating agriculture from our cities and backyards. So true!

Remember when your parents used to pull carrots and potatoes from the backyard or went blueberry picking at the farm down the road? I do. Not very common anymore. And hard to do in urban living these days. As a result, food—a cornerstone of our health—has suffered. And Holland and de la Salle argue that it’s not just about greenspace or agriculture, but food itself, which is a critical part of a city’s culture, contributing to its tourism and local economy. Go Mark and Janine! You tell ’em!

Their argument is smartly presented and concludes with a terrific six-dimensional strategy proposal, including a call to arms for local and provincial governments to shift their focus away from agriculture to food, and farmers to transition away from old methods and ways of thinking. They also encourage developers to include places to grow, procure and enjoy food, and encourages academia to update their teaching to include food as an important part of both city planning and agricultural education. They end with a stern warning to all citizens of B.C. “to embrace local food.” Amen to that. Let’s eat.

Click here for Holand and de la Salle’s complete article in The Vancouver Sun.

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