THUNDER BAY -- The Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy is launching a new study, which will help gather more information on the agri-food sector.
There have been some major studies looking at the broader picture of agriculture in Northwestern Ontario, but there is little information to help assist the growth of agriculture businesses.
Food Strategy co-ordinator Amy Bumbacco said the goal is to help provide a greater understanding of the demand for local food in Thunder Bay for the purpose of providing an analysis of opportunities for supplying the local market.
“We are hoping the gathered information will enable farmers and other food businesses to find locally relevant information and create strategies to expand or start a new business,” Bumbacco said.
“They can plan for future growing seasons, so they will know what crops to buy and how much land to till up.”
Bumbacco added they will be able to construct a relevant business plan.
Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy will be collecting data by sector, including raw food retailers, prepared food retailers, farms, processors and distributors.
The process will start with surveys and interviews as well as a focus group with direct-marketing farmers, which officials behind the study believe will help create more of a narrative.
“A lot of interviews will be over the phone, then we will have the focus group and we are also going to be conducting in-person interviews with shoppers,” Bumbacco said.
“We are going to try and get into one of the major grocery stores here and talk to customers about their purchasing habits.”
The study should be completed by July, with results available by the end of October.
Bumbacco added the study might be just a starting point, with other projects possibly in the works.
