As farmers' markets across the lower mainland grow in popularity thanks to trends like the 100 Mile Diet, Metro Vancouver is considering stepping in to ramp up local food production.

For the first time, the board is considering a plan for the region's food production and has published a draft Regional Food Systems Strategy. In it, staff propose purchasing agricultural land for a trust, which could then be rented out to new farmers who can't afford to buy their own plots.

"I think there's a tremendous demand for locally-produced food," says Richmond city councilor and Metro Vancouver Agricultural Committee Chair Harold Steves. He adds it's not just about preference, but the importance of developing as much food security as possible by having more food produced locally, even if it means government interference in the market.

"There's three basic human needs: food, clothing and shelter and right now government is involved in shelter. If we're providing shelter -- and food is even a greater problem for many people than shelter -- then should we not be interfering in the marketplace to provide food for the public?"

Vancouver city councilor Andrea Reimer also sits on the agricultural committee and supports producing more in the Lower Mainland, but she warns buying up land to do so would be complicated.

"There are so many different players in it. We've got eight ministries at the provincial or federal level, 11 First Nations, 22 municipalities, the regional government, the private sector, the non-profit sector."

Reimer says it's also important to wait to hear what the public has to say at upcoming consultations, since the draft plan is based on the opinions of farmers and others already keen on the plan.

"So you get one perspective from those so now you take it out to sort of the general public, and the general public all pays taxes either through their property taxes, or through their rent so they're going to have a different idea about potentially how they want those tax dollars spent."

Public hearings on Regional Food Systems Strategy start in October.