Please read this; our duty to react is in our hands!

[saddlebum]

Please read this; our duty to react is in our hands!..Sharon K

 

 

 

When the Canadian dollar was low in value, foreign companies bought up

most of the businesses in Canada at garage sale prices. Foreign owners

have closed down the canning factories in Exeter (north of London, ON) and

in the Niagara area. As a result the local farmers have no place to sell

their produce or have it preserved.

 

 

 

In the soft fruit producing area of Niagara, farmers have ripped out their

peach trees because other than road side stands who will buy their fruit?

The big companies have already decided and publicly announced that it is

cheaper to buy canned peaches from Greece, so that is what you will see in

stores. The farm land is being sold to developers and turned into big

house and condo developments.

 

 

 

The canning factory in Exeter was eventually taken over by a co-op of

former employees and they will try to make a go of it but it sounds kind

of shaky. The politicians stood by and did nothing.

 

Garlic is no longer produced in Canada because it comes from China at a

price cheaper than the cost of production in Canada. That's all you see in

stores and there is no Canadian produced garlic to choose from even at a

higher price. Maybe the high taxes in Canada have something to do with it.

A small but determined radical group trying to unionize farm labour

didn't help matters either.

 

Sure all these trade agreements bring us low cost material goods, but if

everyone is out of a job who is going to buy these products?

 

Good luck trying to find 100% Canadian products in stores. The only way to

find such a thing is to deal directly with the farmer and leave out the

retailer.

 

 

"FOOD" for thought. More information on this subject.....

 

 

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT THE COUNTRY MARKET. ON> THE LABEL OF

SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA '.

 

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON

THE CAN FROM CHINA I WAS SHOCKED!! SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE

LIBERTY GOLD BRAND

 

OR THE DOLE IS FROM CAL .

 

 

 

Another example was in canned mushrooms. No-Name brand came From

Indonesia . Next to them were President Choice brand. Produce of Canada

!! The P. C. Went into my grocery bag.

 

 

TAKES FOREVER JUST TO BUY FOOD AND DO LABEL READING !!

 

Are we Canadians and Americans as dumb as we appear

 

--- Or --- is it that we just do not think?

 

While the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even

toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in North American

markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Bush Administration

(now Obama Administration) (and the Harper Government!) for perceived

errors.

 

Yet 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to

the Chinese should be suspended.

 

Well, duh... why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?

 

SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, CANADA/AMERICA!!

 

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made

in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ) simply choose

another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you

are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do

without. Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have

eggs, use real ones and benefit some North American farmer. Easter is just

an example, the point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go

ahead and assume control on your own.

 

THINK ABOUT THIS, If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20

each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in

our favour . . . Fast!!

 

The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary

pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

 

The solution? Let's give them fair warning and send our own message.

Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on

implementing this on June 4, and continue it until July 4. That is only

one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the

total, or 8%, of their North American exports. Then they will at least

have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness

were worth it...

 

"Remember: June 4 to July 4 "

 

EVEN BETTER. . . START NOW!

 

Send this to everybody you know.

 

Let's show them that we are intelligent Canadians and Americans, And

NOBODY can take us for granted.

 

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our

lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

 

 

Pass it on, North America !

[Caveman]

I feel you neighbor. Been looking at labels for at least a year now. Hard not to buy Chinese anymore.

[Guest Swifty]

http://100mile.foodtv.ca/

(keeping it bike related for you, Saddlebum!)

otherwise...ohhhhh, forget it....

[Guest seuadr]

local production of foodstuffs won't last unless people stop trying to find the lowest price, and start looking at the highest value.

[Dave77459]

local production of foodstuffs won't last unless people stop trying to find the lowest price, and start looking at the highest value.

It's hard to imagine when comparing identical-looking garlic, that the one that costs 25% less is a lower value. I believe by 'value', you are suggesting a 'societal value' which is hard for Joe Customer to appreciate.

 

Dave

[GAWildKat]

Going to throw my 2 cents worth here so please don't flame me here. I personally get what you say about Chinese products flooding the market and driving down price and driving away the local farmer. I buy American and/or local when I can afford it. However most of the time (like now) I cannot afford to look at the best value for the community and must look at the bottom $$ to ensure I have enough money to feed the family. Right now Hubby and I are living on one income while his worker's comp gets settled and mine has always been the smaller of the two. Atm I am not getting assistance from the government for anything Sometimes doing the right thing isn't easy....or feasible. And please before you flame me understand...when my Dad retired, he became a farmer, it was a passion he had that he waited to do when he retired.

[Bubber]

Going to throw my 2 cents worth here so please don't flame me here. I personally get what you say about Chinese products flooding the market and driving down price and driving away the local farmer. I buy American and/or local when I can afford it. However most of the time (like now) I cannot afford to look at the best value for the community and must look at the bottom $$ to ensure I have enough money to feed the family. Right now Hubby and I are living on one income while his worker's comp gets settled and mine has always been the smaller of the two. Atm I am not getting assistance from the government for anything Sometimes doing the right thing isn't easy....or feasible. And please before you flame me understand...when my Dad retired, he became a farmer, it was a passion he had that he waited to do when he retired.

 

 

Each person has to evaluate their own curcumstances and make decissions based on what is right for them.

NO FLAMING HERE!

Been there and did what I had to do.

Bubber

[Eugene]

I support you 100% and have tried for a long time to not buy "made in China" products - I have found, in the longer term, I save money by spending a bit more up front.

Having said that, we also must read the labels with some understanding - especially food products - just because it says made or produced in CAN/USA, it does not necessarily mean the contents were grown in CAN/USA.

Canada has strange labelling guidelines where only a certain percent has to be Canadian to get the label "produce of Canada".

Can't remember the guidelines but they are somewhat misleading. Your point of buying local and skipping the retailer is the only sure way to buy local.

Cheers