[420 Girl]

Among the future local prospects for agriculture outlined in a presentation at Monday night's Cobourg council meeting, councillors were most excited by the chances of getting a hemp growing and processing operation.

It's a good crop for the kind of soil that formerly supported a robust tobacco industry, Northumberland director of economic development and tourism Dan Borowec said.

It would require 15,000 acres of the crop, involving some 200 farms. And if an industrial pro- cessing facility is brought in, Borowec added, it could create about 50 jobs. He hopes everything can be in place within four years.

Together with agricultural and creative-services co-ordinator Trissia McAllister, Borowec gave a broader picture of how they are working to strengthen that sector of the local economy.

It was about a year ago they made a presentation to county council on this subject and came up with 30 recommendations, he said. "So far, we have touched upon probably 24 of those actionable items."

McAllister is pleased with the second edition of the county's Farm Gate Guide, a listing of local agribusinesses plus restaurants, groceries and eateries that consistently offer local products. It also has a listing of details on the five local farmers' markets (in Cobourg, Port Hope, Campbellford, Hastings and Brighton).

Whereas the first edition was made possible through grants, including funding through the Community Futures Development Corporation, this one was published through charging those businesses who wanted a listing a fee of $100 plus GST.

Another publication that has been well received is the Farm and Food Safety Handbook, she said. Borowec mentioned their new agribusiness newsletter.

McAllister listed educational opportunities they have provided, such as a marketing-for- profit workshop and an event organized in conjunction with the Victoria Hall Volunteers examining the future of agriculture.

Deputy Mayor Gil Brocanier said they'd be pleased to know that, at a recent dinner for retiring CAO Steve Robinson, they had enjoyed a three-course meal at the Woodlawn Terrace Inn consisting of locally produced food.

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