Local food strategy aims to boost Yukon production

The Yukon Government has created a local food strategy,hopingto increaseproduction in the territory.The plan outlines programs and policies the government hopes to enact over the next five years.

"They're looking at more programs, and trying to help the farmers with more funding," said Lou Clark, who was acclaimed as president of the Yukon AgriculturalAssociation this week.

"Those will definitely help farmers, small and larger, get bigger and get more advanced."

The strategy includes a variety of potential initiatives, including funding for private consultants to help farmers with permits and licences for farming operations. There's also a promise of money for research in food production, processing and storage, as well as veterinary care.

The plan also looks at how home gardeners can increase yields of backyard produce, with the help of community workshops.

The territory is nowheavily dependent on food coming up the Alaska Highway from the south, a system not without risk and disadvantages, the government notes.

When thehighway temporarily closedin June2012, grocery store shelves in Whitehorse emptied of milk, eggs and produce.

"The Local Food Strategy for Yukon is sowing the seeds for long-term development of the agriculture sector, enhanced food security and increased access to local food for Yukoners," Energy, Mines and ResourcesMinister ScottKent said in a news release.

"The real work will be done in seasons to come by Yukon's farmers, ranchers, gardeners and community groups to enhance Yukon's agricultural economy and food security."

Not easy to start a farm in Yukon

According to the Yukon Agriculture Association, the number of new farmers in the territory is on the rise.

Alexandre Poitras is one examplehe is setting up in Mendenhall, along the Alaska Highway.

"The way I look at it is, if we can find ways to get a better production and have more farms and more volume, then the price is going to end up being close to similar,for a way better produce," he said.

But starting a new farm isn't easy.

"Start-up cost is quite high.It takes time to build up good soil and get set up," he said.

Clark, also relatively new to farming, says many farmers work a second job to help get their operation going.

"We try to work to support our farmers and get bigger," she said.

"So the programs and the funding that the government is offering and supporting us with is going to be a big huge step."