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Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters
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New board for rabbit producers By Lois Ann Baker – Eastern Ontario AgriNews September, 2011 Vol. 35, No. 9 Ontario rabbit producers are trying to get the message across that rabbit meat is good anytime of the year. While there is already an informal board set up, the Ontario Commercial Rabbit Growers Association is in the process of creating a new formal marketing board for rabbit producers to spread this message. Legally named Ontario Commercial Rabbit Growers Association, the board will be known simply as Ontario Rabbit. "We wanted a new short and fresh name," said Kendra Keels, Industry Development Manager. The new board will provide rabbit producers with three very important services: a voice to the government, producer education and consumer promotion. "We're a marketing board, but not to sell rabbits, that's still the responsibility of the rabbit producer," said Keels. Instead the board will provide government lobbying on behalf of rabbit producers giving them a bigger voice. The board is also committed to educating rabbit producers to ensure quality rabbit meat is available to the public. The biggest job of the board, however, is consumer promotion. Keels said the goal is to "move the rabbit industry forward" by educating the public about eating rabbits year round. Up until now, rabbit sales have been very seasonal and the idea is to remind people that they aren't just for special occasions like Easter and Christmas. "We want to have a steady year-round supply of rabbits (for sale in stores)," said Keels. Implementation of the new board is part of a four-year collaboration with the Ontario Veal Association. Funding for the collaboration was provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Adaptation Council's CanAdvance Program. The project has provided the rabbit sector with organizational infrastructure and allowed the veal industry to realize some efficiencies. Note: The Agricultural Adaptation Council is a non-profit, grass roots coalition of 66 agricultural, agribusiness and rural organizations dedicated to providing financial resources to help Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industry remain profitable, grow and maintain its economic strength. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a conflicting mandate to encourage and increase consumption of Canadian livestock products while at the same time act as its regulator. Our food supply is controlled by powerful corporations influencing government policies. It’s politics and big business working together. The Rabbit Advocacy Group supports an arms-length, independent body free of any conflict of interest to take over regulation and enforcement of transportation and slaughter of Canada's livestock. As informed consumers, we can force change by the decisions we make in our daily lives. Moving toward a healthy, wholesome, plant-based diet and buying local is a good starting point. Related: October 1, 2014 Ontario Rabbit Leaves Livestock Alliance Partnership |