Stronger local food policy good for economy:Nelson Food Cupboard

Creating more food security in Nelson can be a real economic development driver.

So says Nelson Food Cupboard Coordinator Kim Charlesworth who was part of a presentation to council Monday night.

She says the city should not be focusing on farming as something that’s done only in the rural regional district.

She says only 5% of food consumed in Nelson is local and the city needs to embrace and promote small scale local production.

That could be through community gardens and greenhouses, managed fruit-bearing trees, or even backyard chickens and bee-hives.

She’s calling for the city to create a Municipal Food Policy Council to set direction and promote the local agri-food sector.