Something doesn't smell right with the Garlic...

Recently, I was wandering through one of the supermarkets in town, picking up a few things when I noticed a sign over some produce reading, "Product of Canada". This was placed over garlic that cost $0.97 for a package of three bulbs. There was other garlic there as well, that was also labelled "Product of Canada" that cost $3.97 for the same quantity. Having a curious nature, I took a closer look to see how two products, both produced in Canada could have such different price points. The answer was simple. The $3.97 garlic is grown in Millet, Alberta. The $0.97 garlic comes out of Windsor, Ontario, and is imported by a Chinese food packaging/distribution company.

Of course, this is not a shock for anyone who pays any attention to what is happening in the food industry. Until recently honey labelled "Canada No. 1" was just a grade, and did not reflect the origin of the honey. In other words, imported honey was being labelled "Canada No. 1", and many Canadians thought they were buying honey from local producers. It was only through the complaints of beekeepers, to the CFIA, that the laws were changed to more clearly identify country of origin.

In the last 10 months, due to the ongoing pressure of tariffs from Washington D.C., and the lack of movement on the issue from our own leaders in Ottawa, many Canadians are choosing to actively support local businesses and producers. This sentiment is talked about privately and locally, as well as on a national level, through the different medias. And the mega corporations have been listening, and are keen to make a profit off of this trend.

If these corporations, whether Canadian owned, or international, want to stock, advertise, and promote local products grown by our local producers, I think that's great. But as consumers, we have to understand that these companies are willing to deceive you for the sake of profits, and they often lobby our own government to keep the regulations working in their favor.

Now, if you think all garlic is the same, no matter where it grows, and how it

s grown, and you are really only keen on the price point, then carry on. But for those who do care about their local economies, and who want to see their own communities grow and thrive, keep being a conscious consumer, and keep reading those labels!