The Yukon Agricultural Association urges for 5% local food goal

The Yukon Agricultural Association (YAA) is calling on government, grocery, and foodservice buyers to source 5% of all government food purchases from Yukon-grown products by the end of 2025.

The Yukon government has set a recommended target to source 10% of its food from local producers. Currently, less than 1% of the government's annual food budget is spent on Yukon-grown food.

Between 2021 and 2025, more than $9.6 million was spent through a national food service company. $124,000 was spent on locally produced goods from 2021 to 2024.

The 5% goal would be backed by practical tools to support procurement leads and decision-makers.

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While this target is directed at public institutions, the association is also encouraging foodservice operators, retailers, and citizens to choose local. 

“Every meal is a choice. We can keep importing food from thousands of kilometres away, or we can invest in growing agriculture right here at home,” said Cain Vangel, president of the Yukon Agricultural Association, in a press release. “Northern food security isn’t just about reducing imports. It means building a thriving local agricultural economy that supports today’s farmers and creates real opportunities for the next generation. It is about long-term resilience, succession, and building a legacy of self-reliance in the North.”

The YAA’s call to action aligns with the Yukon Food Security Network’s phased procurement targets — 5% in 2025, 10% in 2026, and 15% in 2027.