Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)
Chatham

Highlighting Food Grown Close To Home

Local Food Week is underway in Chatham-Kent and local vendors are hoping the hype will draw some more customers.

Amy Dodman sells jellies, jams, pickles, and sauces and uses local produce whenever possible. She believes consumers do value local food more than imported goods.

"It's fresh, it's close to our own communities and it supports our local economy," says Dodman. "I think there is a big movement of eat local."

Krystle VanRoboys from Thames Van Farms agrees.

"People want to see the 'Grown in CK' and the Canadian Maple Leaf on the jar," says VanRoboys. "There's too much out there that's outside of North America on the shelves today."

Those statements come in contrast to a new study that found some Canadians are turning to frozen produce and juice as less-pricey alternatives to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Chatham-Kent hosted a local food market in front of the Civic Centre in Chatham over the noon-hour to help promote several local producers.

Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)

Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)

Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)

Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)

Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)

Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Vendors take part in a Farmers Market outside the Civic Centre in Chatham to kick off Local Food Week. June 6, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)

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