The days when the family farm provided meat and dairy products primarily are a thing of the past, not only across Canada but across continents.
With small-scale family farms being replaced by large-scale factory farms, certification programs have been put in place with labeling of products, whether it’s meat or dairy.
“There are a number of certification programs available to producers who wish to reach niche markets,” said Amanda Haustein, well-versed with labeling. “Each program has its own set of regulations to be met to earn the labeling.”
According to Haustein, organic products are third-party labeled and certified.
“Although it depends on different products, Canada has its own set of national standards,” added Haustein. “Organic products are almost always third party labeled and certified, and there is a process to go through to meet the requirements.”
According to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), approximately 98 per cent of Canada’s eggs are laid by battery cage hens.
Calves of dairy cows are often confined to veal crates and fed a restricted diet to produce soft, pale flesh.
With such rigorous conditions, according to CFHS, Canada introduced certification in 2002, called the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA), which was the country’s first government-approved animal welfare certification program, modeled on the Freedom Food program.
CFHS states that nearly 1.8 million farm animals have been raised to BC SPCA standards with certified producers throughoutBritish Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“Products labeled organic have been raised or grown under specific conditions, usually on a smaller scale, and must meet all labeling requirements therefore cost more due to all the special steps it takes to grow and/or raise an organic product,” said Haustein. “The benefit is usually that organic products are environmentally sustainable and healthier for consumers, and also less chemicals are used and/or safer products are used when growing and/or raising them.”
Speaking of how this has changed the way business was done earlier, Haustein said, “Locally produced milk cannot be sold for human consumption off the farm, it must be sold to a processor.”
According to Organic Alberta, one can now buy Local Alberta Certified Organic Milk and Dairy Products in a variety of retailers under the Rock Ridge, Vital Green and Dairyland organic labels only.