Promoting organic living in Niagara
Erik Dickson
Issue date: 6/9/09 Section: News
It seems that every day we are being warned about the increasing health risks caused by various products that we use or foods that we eat.
It is no longer a secret that many of us choose what is convenient rather than what is healthy.
In spite of this, two local entrepreneurs hope that they can inspire others to adopt a lifestyle that is more sustainable, natural and rooted in an emerging organic industry.
Vivek Rajakumar and Alexandra Hlinyanszky both run their own organic-based businesses in Niagara, and are each taking on the challenge of bringing organic and natural products to the forefront in a region with an established culinary industry.
Rajakumar runs Victory Herbs and Farms on Seventh Street, just outside of St. Catharines, which is one of only two certified organic farms in the Niagara Region. There, he grows a variety of organic products including strawberries, raspberries, radishes, garlic and a wide variety of lettuce.
He says that the health benefits of eating naturally grown food is what made him persue organic farming, as well as the fact that no one in the region uses the same methods.
"Organic food has been proven to be much more nutritious than conventionally grown foods," he said. "If you grow the organic plant correctly, they produce a higher quality of nutrients."
Hlinyanszky received her degree in Dramatic Arts from Brock, and now owns and operates the Pan Café in downtown St. Catharines, which features the only all-organic menu in the city.
She says that the choice to get into organics was an obvious one for her, and that seeing the increasing health problems in society was a major motivator.
"Not being able to find anything in Niagara that was doing [organics] pushed me to do it myself," she said. "I think it's a very important discussion."
Although both agree that making the transition to an entirely organic diet is not practical for most, they hope that with higher awareness, people will start to question what they consume - which will lead to healthier choices.
It is no longer a secret that many of us choose what is convenient rather than what is healthy.
In spite of this, two local entrepreneurs hope that they can inspire others to adopt a lifestyle that is more sustainable, natural and rooted in an emerging organic industry.
Vivek Rajakumar and Alexandra Hlinyanszky both run their own organic-based businesses in Niagara, and are each taking on the challenge of bringing organic and natural products to the forefront in a region with an established culinary industry.
Rajakumar runs Victory Herbs and Farms on Seventh Street, just outside of St. Catharines, which is one of only two certified organic farms in the Niagara Region. There, he grows a variety of organic products including strawberries, raspberries, radishes, garlic and a wide variety of lettuce.
He says that the health benefits of eating naturally grown food is what made him persue organic farming, as well as the fact that no one in the region uses the same methods.
"Organic food has been proven to be much more nutritious than conventionally grown foods," he said. "If you grow the organic plant correctly, they produce a higher quality of nutrients."
Hlinyanszky received her degree in Dramatic Arts from Brock, and now owns and operates the Pan Café in downtown St. Catharines, which features the only all-organic menu in the city.
She says that the choice to get into organics was an obvious one for her, and that seeing the increasing health problems in society was a major motivator.
"Not being able to find anything in Niagara that was doing [organics] pushed me to do it myself," she said. "I think it's a very important discussion."
Although both agree that making the transition to an entirely organic diet is not practical for most, they hope that with higher awareness, people will start to question what they consume - which will lead to healthier choices.
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