KIRAN KANG
<Contributor>
Toronto’s 29th annual Vegetarian Food Festival took place this past weekend, bringing together vegetarians and curious allies for three days of workshops, lectures, cooking demonstrations, and delicious food samplings. Certainly, when one thinks of vegetarianism, food comes to mind. The wide array of events held during the Festival, however, proved that vegetarianism is a much heartier topic than simply saying ‘no’ to eating meat. The Festival included a panel discussion on the moral, ethical, and political implications of eating animals, a workshop on using food to help cope with common diseases, and a lecture on how to incorporate sustainable practices into your day-to-day. Festivals like this encourage us to remember that the choice of whether to eat a burger or not isn’t just a simple yes/no question. Underneath that decision are equally important questions: whether or not you support certain farming practices, animal welfare, or environmentally sustainable agriculture, to name a few.
In Toronto, we’re lucky to have a vibrant local food community that’s committed to supplying the city with ethically farmed fruits, vegetables, and meats. And, it looks like our Ontario government is also interested in putting local foods onto our plates. The proposed Local Food Act, 2013, which aims to promote local food economies throughout Ontario, has already received its fair share of support within agricultural and health-minded circles. Ravenna Nuaimy-Barker, Director of Sustain Ontario, described the proposed Act as a “positive step in the right direction” for Ontario’s farming communities, noting that “truly supporting local food systems in Ontario will require addressing many more issues and opportunities.” Events like the Vegetarian Food Festival play a significant role in getting conversations about what we eat and where it comes from started. Defining what the issues and opportunities are that we need to focus on can only be determined through discussion, conversation, and trial and error. Festivals like this provide a positive space for these discussions to be had between farming experts and those who just love to eat and are curious to learn about their food.
If you’re interested in talking more about the Local Food Act, vegetarianism, or farming practices, feel free to drop us a line at environmentallawsociety@osgoode.yorku.ca. We’d love to hear your ideas to keep the conversation going!