The fifth edition of the Locally Lambton Map, connecting food buyers with area farms and orchards, is on the way.
The Lambton Federation of Agriculture that began sponsoring the map in 2006 as a way to promote local food producers, recently extended the deadline to Jan. 15 for farms and others to joining the upcoming edition.
The extra two weeks was added in light of the busy holiday season, said Christina Hyatt, the federation’s secretary-treasurer.
Plans are for 35,000 copies of 2015 edition of the map to be ready for distribution in the spring.
Updated editions of the map highlighting farms and farm businesses selling their products directly to consumers, have been printed approximately every two years by the federation.
“We’re pretty excited,” Hyatt said about the fifth version.
Copies of the most recent 2012 version of the promotional tool were distributed around the province, as well as locally.
“We get quite a few requests from different municipalities, and different events as well,” Hyatt said.
Individuals planning trips to Sarnia-Lambton also often contact her requesting a copy, she said.
The project also offers an online version, www.locallylambton.com, where copies of the map can be downloaded, extending its reach even more.
Darlene Pettit, who has a Wilksport-area farm business called Lena’s Lamb, said being on the map has been helpful.
Her family’s small farm sells premium lamb cuts and products, including lamb sausage, pepperettes and smoked products.
“It’s definitely something I’m going to continue to do,” Pettit said.
“Everything’s right there, and I know they’ve done a few things to make it easier for people, like putting colours for the different commodities.”
Pettit said that when she had booths at farmers’ markets in Petrolia and on Sarnia Bay, she would hand out many copies of the map to customers.
The trend to promote local food was just taking hold locally when the first map was produced back in 2006, but it continues to be strong eight years later.
“It’s definitely something that people are really interested in, and really want to support,” Pettit said.
Hyatt said the maps generally list 50 attractions or participants.
“In our research, we found that 50 to 60 participants is ideal because the map isn’t cluttered, it’s easy to find, it’s easy to read,” she said.
Fees paid by participants cover a portion of the map’s cost, but the project is subsidized by the federation, Hyatt said.
“It’s a fun thing to promote,” she said.
“Sometimes agriculture can be a hard thing to share with our city counterparts, and this is a nice way to bridge that gap.”
This time around, the Locally Lambton website is also set to be updated to make it “mobile-friendly,” as well as allowing the project to offer an online category of local food supporter.
“For people who don’t grow their own food, and are not farmers, but have a vested interest in the local food movements, such as restaurants or markets, we’re offered a web version they can participate in,” Hyatt said.
To be included on the map itself, participants must grow or process at least 50% of their products marketed on the map. They must also be located in Lambton County.
Agricultural societies and farmers’ markets are also eligible.
Registration is available online at locallylambton.com
~Paul Morden~
The Sarnia Observer