Canadian Made Apple Juice (among other Canadian Made things)

[ghannit]

I am wondering if anyone here has any info/links about the "Made in Canada" labeling on Canadian food products. Specifically, I am wondering about how to find apple juice without apple concentrate form China. My mothers side of the family actually has generations of farmers & apple growers from the Annapolis Valley and when I found out that it's difficult to find apple juice made only from local (or even Canadian) apples, I was surprised and upset. 

Does anybody have any experience with this issue? I can't believe I'm only becoming fully aware of it now.  

Edited by ghannit - 5/7/11 at 4:17am

[MamitaM]

Sun-Rype is made in Canada. In the little town where I'm from actually,well about 45 minutes from there.

[moss]

juice is not a whole food. why not just eat an apple complete with the fiber etc?

juice contributes to diabesity...

ps, a couple of years ago there was a recall of juices from california due to arsenic in the water used to constitute it. in certified organic juices... meh...

[ghannit]

moss, I agree that whole food is preferable. By far! However; I personally like a glass of juice once a day, and am OK with giving it to my little one as a part of a balanced diet. When it comes specifically to apple juice, I read this article which talks about the term "made in Canada". http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article769114.ece. "Made in Canada" simply means that 51 per cent of the production cost was incurred in Canada; the ingredients could come from anywhere, and increasingly they come from China. For example, manufacturers can import apple juice concentrate from China - for about one-fifth the cost of Canadian concentrate - add water to it in Canada, and mark it "Made in Canada."

This link is encouraging:http://alassonde.com/en/nutrition/processing.aspx

[Hollycrand]

Maybe it's worth investing in a juicer so you can make your own from Canadian apples??

[ghannit]

Hollycrand, I have wanted a juicer for awhile now... I'll be getting one soon! :-)

Thing is though, it's not just that I'd prefer the non-Chinese-concentrate apple juice for taste/health reasons. I also think everyone should be able to get basic local apple juice/juice boxes in their community grocery store, particularly when they live near a place known for it's apples. I mean, like I wrote earlier, I have a family of local apple farmers who can no longer make a decent living with their local apples (they only keep it going out of love). It's ridiculous to me.

I imagine that Canada is not alone in this particular issue.

[Hollycrand]

So I guess what we can do is to buy local produce, and encourage friends and family to do the same.  It helps, a bit....

[Callimom]

What about cider rather than juice? We get ours from our local farmers's market. The cider is made at the orchard about 30 minutes from us. It's a bit pricier than juice from the grocery store (but not much) and it tastes way better.

I agree that the made in Canada issue is a sad, complex one. I read somewhere that since the closure of our last canning facility here our Niagara peaches are now canned in the States or China. bla.

I would rather pay the producers directly and can my own.