Billionaire grocer Galen Weston slammed for offhand quip on farmers markets

Canadians probably recognize the boyish face of Galen Weston from TV commercials where he pitches President's Choice frozen foods and other goodies.

But the billionaire grocer is coming under fire this week for apparently attacking farmers markets over food-safety concerns.

During a speech Tuesday to the Canadian Food Summit in Toronto, the Loblaws chairman made this off-the-cuff comment:

"Farmers' markets are great. . . ," the Toronto Star reported Weston as saying: "One day they're going to kill some people though."

"I'm just saying that to be dramatic though," he quickly added.

Weston told the 600 conference attendees there are ways to capitalize on consumer demand for locally sourced food but that food inspections are crucial, the Star reported.

Listening was Robert Chorney, executive director of Farmers Markets Ontario.

"We strenuously object" he told conference members, adding later.
"What (Weston) said was really saddening. It really put a damper on the day for some of us."

Chorney said Ontario's 175 farmers' markets post more than $700 million in sales annually. They are regularly inspected and their products are easily traceable because people know who they're buying from, he said.

On the web site Betterfarming.com, Chorney demanded an apology from Weston, whose Loblaws Companies Ltd. is Canada's largest food retailer with more than 1,000 stores.

Weston, through Loblaws public-relations vice-president Julija Hunter, backed away from his remarks. His comments were meant to highlight that food safety is a serious issue and requires more resources for inspection and certification throughout the system.

"He does not believe nor did he imply that farmers' markets are less safe than any other forms of food distribution, including grocery stores," Hunter told the Star via email. "We understand that the comments concerned or offended some, and we regret this outcome."

But the "clarification" didn't placate Chorney. If Weston didn't mean what he said, "then he has a duty to immediately issue a full and unconditional apology to every farmer across this country who sells at a farmer's market."

Hunter told Betterfarming.com in an email that Weston supports farmers markets.

"He does not believe nor did he imply that farmers markets are less safe than any other forms of food distribution, including grocery stores," she said.

"His point was that, as the food system evolves, food safety approaches must keep pace through appropriate resources devoted to inspections and certifications throughout the system. His points were made to underscore that food safety is a serious issue and plays an important in the food system."