The Locavore ChefExploring alternative food networks in

Alberta

Paul NelsonNaomi KrogmanMary Beckie

• Fastest growing province in Canada• Calgary 1.21M (2011); 12.6% growth (2006-

2011)• Edmonton 1.16M (2011); 12.1% growth (2006-

2011)• High Standard of Living

• $95000 Cnd. average annual household income (2011)

• Oil and Gas Activity• $4.51 billion in royalties (2011) • ~ 121000 jobs (1 in 16 Albertans) directly

employed in oil and gas extraction

Local Food Movement in Alberta

• Sept 2011 to August 2012 harvest year• Average $575/household spent at farmers’

markets• Farmers’ Markets valued at $724 million

• 22% of households reported choosing restaurants because they procure Alberta grown ingredients• Calgary > Edmonton• # of “local food” restaurants has

significantly increased over past 5 years.• Niche market driven by price premium of local

products?

Type of Food Establishment Chef *Urban Region Position

       Fine Dining (Low Volume) Brian Edmonton Chef/Owner  Curtis Calgary Chef/Owner  Dean Calgary Chef/Owner  Sandra Edmonton Chef/OwnerFine Dining (High Volume) Andy Edmonton Executive Chef  Jason Calgary Executive Chef  John Calgary Chef/Owner  Sam Edmonton Executive Chef  Scott Edmonton Executive ChefPrivate Club Lori Calgary Executive Chef

Corporate (multiple locations) Edward Calgary Executive Chef  Patrick Calgary Corporate ChefFood Truck Matt Edmonton Chef/Owner  Rob Edmonton Chef/OwnerCatering Blake Edmonton Chef/Owner  Jeff Edmonton Chef/Owner  Stanley Edmonton Chef/OwnerInstitutional Arthur Calgary Chef Instructor  Henry Edmonton Chef Instructor  Manuel Calgary Chef Instructor  Marius Calgary Chef Instructor  Shawn Calgary Chef Instructor  Stuart Calgary Chef Instructor

Alternative Food Networks and Sustainability:- “food becomes a signifier for political, social, and ecological struggles that are otherwise easily ignored.”

~ Goodman 1999

- “Primary among the influences assuring the viabilityand vibrancy of regional food networks are the socialrelations of cooperation and trust that exist amongsuppliers, producers, workers, brokers, retailers and consumers who comprise the regional food network.”

~ Jarosz 2000

Farmer Chef Diner

Social

EnvironmentEconomic

Econo-Social Synergies

Commitment and Sharing Economic Risk

“ This year I paid for my garden before it was ever planted… the consistent quality and even the phone calls we got from the farmer saying ‘Here’s what we’ve got this week!” was phenomenal… I probably put out $10000 in food before we even opened the doors her because I wanted them to grow these products and for them not to wonder ‘Is he going to take this?’… I won’t change my philosophy on this because when you take that burden off farmers it allows them to show what they can do with products on their land.” - Brian

Econo-Social Synergies

Building Community

“Geographically we’re in a community… So that natural draw is the people in the community… You build that community and you build the relationships with the people within your neighbourhood… Families come in and sit at the rotisserie and they ask questions and they interact and they are part of it.” - John

Econo-Social Synergies

Scaling Up Local Foodsheds

“ There’s so many more farmers that are selling to restaurants now than there was ten years ago. It’s been a massive change… because of the support of just a handful of restaurants. I can’t tell you how many farmers thanked me personally when I left the restaurant for keeping their family on the farm. And that’s huge! Talk about a fulfilling career!” - Shawn

References

Alberta Energy. 2014. Oil Sands: Facts and Statistics. http://www.energy.alberta.ca/oilsands/791.asp [accessed July 25,

2014].

Goodman, D. 1999. Agro-Food Studies in the 'Age of Ecology': Nature, Corporeality, Bio- Politics. Sociologia Ruralis 39(1):17-38.

Government of Alberta. 2011. Alberta's oil sands: Economic Activity in Alberta and Canada. Edmonton, AB: Government of Alberta.

Jarosz, L. 2000. Understanding agri-food networks as social relations. Agriculture and Human Values 17: 279-283.

Statistics Canada. "Population and dwelling counts, for census metropolitan areas, 2011 and 2006 censuses," last modified Jan.

13, 2014. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census- recensement /2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?T=205&S=3&RPP=50 [accessed May 27, 2014].

Thank you!

Funding: Rural Sociological Society Canadian Social Sciences

and Humanities Research Council

Contact: pnelson@ualberta.ca