PROJECT SUMMARY

The Organic Voice - Cycling across Canada begins: June 20, 2000.

A goal set at The Guelph Organic Farming Conference's networking workshop in January -- to increase organic food in the market to 10% by the year 2010 -- has inspired a cross-Canada bike tour, called Canada SPOKE (Students Promoting Organic Kinship with the Environment), aimed at increasing national awareness about organic farming.

WHO WE ARE
Canada SPOKE is a group of former and current students of Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Sciences, Performing Arts and Humanities from Ontario who plan to cycle across Canada, from Vancouver Island to St. John's Newfoundland.

MISSION
To raise national awareness of the human and environmental benefits of organic farming, sustainable technologies and healthy lifestyles. The cyclists will travel approximately 130 km per day for 70 days into communities across Canada to educate Canadians about alternatives to genetically engineered foods and the benefits of organic food production.

GOALS

  • To increase consumer demand for organic products.
  • To raise funds for Canadian Organic Growers (COG) research and publications.
  • To promote organic farms, Community Shared Agriculture, food co-ops and retail food outlets selling organic food.
  • To increase government support of the organic sector.

OBJECTIVE

  • To eat only organic food throughout the journey to demonstrate Canada's growing organic food market.
  • To provide venues for focused media attention.
  • To promote local organic food suppliers in communities across Canada.

SPONSORS
We are seeking sponsorship from cycling and outfitting stores, and companies adopting more sustainable practices. The greatest support will be from organic farmers, food co-ops, retail outlets, and COG members who can donate fresh organic food, help coordinate/plan community cycling events, organic farmers markets and public forums along our route.

BENEFITS
The tour will be documented via the Internet on EcoExplorer.com to advertise media events, to recognize sponsor contributions and link organic farming information across Canada. A national press release will be announced prior to the departure date. Public forums and organic farmers markets will have newspaper, radio, and television media coverage as SPOKE travels through communities across the country.

TAKE ACTION
The Canada SPOKE project will benefit the organic food market, by increasing consumer demand, and environmental health as Canada moves towards greater use of sustainable technologies.

To help unite this organic voice, contact Chris Gooderham. Phone: (416) 445-2798. email: spoke@ecoexplorer.com


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