In this six-minute video, Kevin Bekkers, a regional field worker for the NS Department of Agriculture, describes the clear benefits and the greatest obstacles to growing the local food economy in this province.

Connecting the dots: the view from Minnesota

In this short video, Ken Meter of Crossroads Resource Center in Minneapolis tells a very similar story, with some interesting local experience we can learn from.

This video is available courtesy Cooking up a Story, "a show about people, food, and sustainable living" that is broadcast through the web as an initiative of the Local Food Sustainable Network.

"As the pendulum has swung toward a globalized economy, more people are realizing the huge costs associated with the singular pursuit of maximizing profit, employing cheap labor, and ignoring environmental concerns. A shift is underway to promote sustainable local economies, in part, a necessary response to increased fuel costs, and global warming threats.

"Creating a local food economy means valuing the production of healthy foods, creating sustainable markets for farmers who produce the food, and livable wages for farm workers who toil in their fields.

The Local Food Sustainable Network represents a growing body of independent alliances designed to encourage a deeper understanding of the important issues involving food and sustainability that effects people throughout the world. These organizations are working toward a sustainable future; a world that protects the environment for generations to come; respects the dignity and human rights of all people—everywhere; supports agricultural practices and policies to alleviate world hunger, and improve the quality of our food; and strengthens the growth of local economies, the lifeblood of our communities."