If you enjoy naturally flavoured vanilla ice cream, you might be disappointed this summer.

There’s a global shortage of vanilla beans from Madagascar, the world’s largest vanilla producer, and the price of natural vanilla extract and paste has skyrocketed — creating a problem for ice cream makers who rely on the natural flavouring for their products.

In fact, some restaurants are reportedly dropping naturally flavoured vanilla ice cream from their menus due to the high cost.

But it’s not just vanilla ice cream that’s threatened.

“It goes in around 22 of our 38 flavours,” explains Shelley Westgarth, owner of Belly Ice Cream in Huntsville. “It’s a key ingredient.”

Westgarth depends on vanilla to flavour her all-natural ice cream, which is available in the Kawarthas at One Fine Food in Peterborough and Foodland in Haliburton.

While artificial vanilla extract is available — it’s used in 95 per cent of commercial foods that have vanilla flavouring — it doesn’t have the same taste as natural vanilla, which is also used by bakeries.

In addition, the artificial version isn’t a great option for artisanal ice cream makers and bakers who market their naturally flavoured products.

Most artificial vanilla extracts are made from synthetic vanillin (vanillin is the chemical in the vanilla bean that creates the flavour). Synthetic vanillin is made from guaiacol or lignin, naturally occurring organic compounds in wood, that come mainly from by-products of the paper industry.

Still, that’s more palatable than what happened in the olden days, when artificial vanilla flavouring came from castoreum — a musky liquid secreted from the anal sacs of beavers.

For Westgarth, the high cost of natural vanilla is definitely affecting her business. It now costs around $800 per kilogram, 12 times more than it cost a few years ago and $120 more than the price for a kilogram of silver.

“I’ve resorted to buying small amounts in retail, rather than bulk, which is the most expensive way to buy it,” Westgarth says. “To give you some perspective, one bottle of Costco Madagascar vanilla extract used to sell for $7.99. Last time I was there, it was $38.99.”

There a few reasons why natural vanilla is in such short supply and so expensive.

The tropical island nation of Madagascar, off the southeast coast of Africa, produces 80 per cent of the world’s vanilla. Crop yields this year are lower than expected, after a cyclone last March damaged many of the plantations.

Climate change — which has resulted in cooler temperatures and less rain — has also affected the crops. And there are also fewer farmers growing vanilla. Between 2005 and early 2014, there was a glut and many farmers in Madagascar switched to other crops.

Like the world’s most expensive spice saffron, vanilla is a spice harvested from a species of orchid. Also like saffron, vanilla is one of the most labour-intensive crops in the world — grown, harvested, and processed entirely by hand.

Vanilla comes from the fruit of the vanilla orchid (the only edible orchid fruit), which grows best in the moist tropical regions near the equator. It takes up to two years before a newly planted vine of the vanilla orchid flowers. The short-lived flowers must then be hand pollinated, producing the vanilla bean months later.

The beans remain on the vine to ripen for up to nine months before they are harvested by hand. The harvested beans then go through a curing, drying, and resting process that takes up to six months. In total, it takes up to 15 months from when the orchid flowers to when the vanilla beans are ready for sale.

The vanilla orchid is native to the Americas, originating in what is now Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean. The bean was sacred to the Indigenous peoples of the area, who used vanilla as a fragrance in temples and as a flavouring in beverages.

In the 19th century, Mexico had a monopoly on vanilla production but today it only produces 30 to 35 tons of unprocessed vanilla annually. Other countries producing small amounts of vanilla include Costa Rica, Guatemala, Uganda, Kenya, China, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands.

And don’t blame the farmers in Madagascar for the high price of vanilla. As with many crops grown in third-world countries, farmers make pennies on the dollar for their beans. Most of the price is due to profits taken by middlemen and speculators who invest in vanilla.

For her part, Westgarth is still looking for other ways to secure a vanilla supply.

“I’ve been looking around for decent options and there are none,” she says. “We might just need to get really creative and find other ways of flavouring things.”

Hopefully Westgarth can find a flavouring alternative, but ice cream makers and bakeries who rely on vanilla may only have two options left: either increase their prices to cover the higher cost of vanilla, or switch to artificial vanilla flavouring.

We also asked the two largest ice cream makers in the Kawarthas — Kawartha Dairy in Bobcaygeon and Central Smith Creamery in Peterborough — for how the higher cost of vanilla is affecting their businesses, but neither replied. We will update this story if we receive further information.

VIDEO: The Secrets of Vanilla

A pistol used during Second World War was among the 2,192 firearms collected by police during the gun amnesty program in April.

The Ontario Provincial Police collected 689 guns — including 267 rifles, 156 shotguns, 113 prohibited firearms, and 62 other guns such as replica and vintage weapons — along with 12,615 pieces of ammunition.

Municipal police forces across Ontario collected 1,503 guns.

The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service collected 20 non-restricted long guns, one restricted handgun, one prohibited handgun, one prohibited weapon (a “butterfly” knife) and several hundred rounds of ammunition.

The Peterborough Police Service collected 29 guns, including 16 rifles, six shotguns, and seven handguns. One of the handguns was an FN Browning Model 1922 semi-automatic pistol, which police sent to the Hastings and Prince Edward Regimental Museum as it has historical value.

Manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium, the FN Browning Model 1922 was intended for the military and police and was adopted by several European countries (including Holland, Greece, Romania, France, Denmark, and Finland) for use before and during World War II.

Most of the guns and ammunition surrendered to police will be destroyed, but some will be retained for historical, educational, or training purposes.

Although the gun amnesty officially ended at the end of April, police will continue to accept submissions from the public.

Interested gun owners may call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police service’s non-emergency lines to arrange for officers to attend and safely retrieve the weapons. Police remind the public to never deliver guns, ammunition, or military ordinance directly to a police station. Always call first and wait for the police to arrive.

Police are asking for the public’s help in tracing the last movements of a 32-year-old Cobourg man whose body was recovered yesterday (May 9) from Lake Ontario.

At around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the Northumberland detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a man who was in distress in the water at Cobourg’s West Beach, located just west of Victoria Park.

The Cobourg Fire Department and the Canadian Coast Guard arrived at the scene with their marine vessels and began the search for the man, who was no longer visible. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) from 8 Wing Trenton later arrived with a helicopter to assist in the search efforts.

The body of a man was recovered from Lake Ontario around 200 metres off shore. Although his vital signs were absent, he was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The man was later identified as Ryan John-Roger Zinke, age 32 of Cobourg, and investigators are asking for the public’s help in tracing his last movements. He is described as Caucasian, 5 8″ (173cm), 145lbs (66kg) with a thin build. He was last seen wearing athletic shorts and no shirt.

Zinke was known to frequent the Cobourg beach area.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cobourg OPP Detachment at 905-372-5421 or toll free at 1-888-310-1122.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Peterborough/Northumberland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 and not have to appear in court.

The investigation is being conducted by detectives from the Northumberland Crime Unit under the direction of Detective Inspector Paul Rosato of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch.

While it is unknown what happened to Zinke, the water temperature of Lake Ontario on May 9th was around 14°C (56°F). According to the U.S. National Center for Cold Water Safety, water at this temperature is very dangerous and can result in total loss of breathing control.

Sudden immersion in water of this temperature can result in gasping and hyperventilating, which can result in a person inhaling water into their lungs. The first warm days of spring are a particularly dangerous time of year, as people may be tempted to enter the water.

The Township of Selwyn is one of three municipalities in the Kawarthas receiving funding under Ontario’s Community Transportation Grant Program.

Selwyn will be receiving $1,488,400 over five years to pilot a rural transportation service serving Bridgenorth, Curve Lake, Ennismore, and Lakefield. The service is slated to begin in spring 2019.

“Safe, reliable transportation provide great benefits to all members of the public, regardless of the demographic,” says Mary Smith, Mayor of Selwyn Township.

“This initiative will improve access to employment and education, medical appointments and services and improve inter-regional connectivity. We hope that this pilot will serve as an example of how great collaboration and partnership can help to solve rural issues for other small communities.”

Selwyn will work with partners Curve Lake First Nation, Community Care Peterborough, and Peterborough Social Services to develop the service.

Details of routes and fares are to be completed, and a bus carrier will be selected through a competitive process. Routes will be planned to coordinate with the City of Peterborough transit system, to provide users with improved access to locations throughout the City of Peterborough as well as inter-regional connectivity, whether through GO Transit or Greyhound Transit Services.

In addition to Selwyn Township, Bancroft will receive $500,000 and Northumberland will receive $497,200 under the Community Transportation Grant Program. Details of those projects are not yet available.

Through the Community Transportation Grant program, Ontario is provide 40 municipalities with $30 million over five years for improved transportation services within and between communities to make it easier for people to get around, including seniors, students, youths, persons with disabilities and others.

The Ontario legislature was formally dissolved yesterday (May 8) and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario will issue a writ today naming Thursday, June 7th as the date of the 2018 Ontario general election.

After the writ drops, the election campaign will officially begin, including rules in place for election spending and fundraising.

The party leaders — including Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, PC leader Doug Ford, NDP leader Andrea Horwath, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner — are already hitting the campaign trail today.

You can expect to see signs popping up on lawns and at the sides of roads, ads from the major parties online and on television and radio, visits from the party leaders supporting the local candidates, and local candidates at your door seeking your support.

As of May 9th, the PCs continue to lead in the polls with 40 per cent support (enough to form a majority government), followed by the NDP at 29 per cent, with the Liberals trailing at 26 per cent. However, recent polling also suggests nearly half of Ontario voters haven’t fully made up their minds and most voters aren’t happy with any of the current leaders.

Here’s your guide to the provincial election in the Kawarthas:

New and changed provincial electoral districts in the Kawarthas

When the writ drops today for the election, Ontario’s previous 107 electoral districts will change to 124 for the 2018 general election, with some district boundaries also changing.

The changes were made in provincial legislation in 2015 to match federal election riding boundary changes and to reflect Ontario’s growing population.

In the Kawarthas, the previous Peterborough district is now called Peterborough—Kawartha, with Trent Lakes and North Kawartha townships moving from Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock into the new district and Otonabee-South Monaghan and Asphodel-Norwood townships moving to the new Northumberland—Peterborough South riding.

The new Northumberland—Peterborough South district was creating from the previous Peterborough, Northumberland—Quinte West, Durham, and Prince Edward—Hastings districts. The new Hastings—Lennox and Addington distrct was created from Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington and Prince Edward—Hastings districts.

Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock is now smaller, with with Trent Lakes and North Kawartha townships moving to Peterborough—Kawartha.

Maps of the districts from Elections Ontario are provided below, but if you are still unsure of your electoral district, you can visit eregistration.elections.on.ca/en/election/search and enter your postal code.

Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock

Peterborough—Kawartha

Northumberland—Peterborough South

Hastings—Lennox and Addington

Provincial candidates in the Kawarthas

Here are the declared candidates and party affliations for the electorial districts in the Kawarthas.

Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock

• Laurie Scott — Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (incumbent)
• Brooklynne Cramp-Waldinsperge — Liberal Party of Ontario
• Zachary Miller — New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Gene Balfour — Ontario Libertarian Party
• Thomas Rhyno — Independent

Peterborough—Kawartha

• Jeff Leal — Liberal Party of Ontario (incumbent)
• Dave Smith — Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
• Sean Conway — New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Gianne Broughton — Green Party of Ontario
• Jacob Currier — Ontario Libertarian Party
• Rod Roddick — Trillium Party of Ontario
• Bob Abrahams — Independent

Northumberland—Peterborough South

• Lou Rinaldi — Liberal Party of Ontario (incumbent)
• David Piccini — Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
• Jana Papuckoski — New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Jeff Wheeldon — Green Party of Ontario
• John O’Keefe — Ontario Libertarian Party
• Derek Sharp — Trillium Party of Ontario

Hastings—Lennox and Addington

• Daryl Kramp — Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
• Tim Rigby — Liberal Party of Ontario
• Nate Smelle — New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Sari Watson — Green Party of Ontario
• Greg Scholfield — Ontario Libertarian Party
• Lonnie Herrington — Trillium Party of Ontario
• Grant Dewar — Independent

A earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Daryl Kramp as the incumbent candidate for Hastings—Lennox and Addington. There is no incumbent candidate as this is a new riding created in 2015.

Upcoming all-candidate meetings and debates in the Kawarthas

Here’s a list of upcoming provincial candidate meetings and debates in the Kawarthas. All events are free and open to the public.

Peterborough—Kawartha

• Thursday, May 10th – The Buckhorn Rate Payers are hosting an an all-candidates meeting at 7 p.m. at the Buckhorn Community Centre (1782 Lakehurst Rd., Buckhorn).
• Monday, May 14th – Peterborough Public Health is hosting an all-candidates meeting on health and social issues from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Peterborough Public Health (185 King St., Peterborough). All locally registered candidates who are running for provincial election have been invited to participate. The meeting will be moderated by Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health for Peterborough Public Health.
• Tuesday, May 15th – Electric City Culture Council and Artspace are hosting an all-candidates debate on the arts at 8 p.m. at Artspace (378 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough). All of the candidates have confirmed with the exception of the independent candidate Bob Abrahams. Each candidate will have up to three minutes to speak about their party platform and key arts and culture issues, and to respond to five critical questions about arts advocacy: the lower income levels of local artists, investment in the Ontario Arts Council, arts education in our schools, and the cultural impact of responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. There will also be a question-and-answer period for the audience. The discussion will be moderated by Julia Harrison, President of the Reframe Film Festival.
• Wednesday, May 16th – Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of Realtors (PKAR) and the Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association are hosting an all-candidates meeting on housing, home ownershiop, and small business from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Peterborough Lions Community Centre (347 Burnham St. Peterborough). The panel discussion wil be moderated by 2018 PKAR president Kristi Doyle.
• Thursday, May 17th – The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is also hosting an all-candidates meeting on issues affecting the business community from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront (150 George St. N., Peterborough). Sandra Dueck of the CHamber will be moderating.
• Tuesday, May 22nd – For Our Grandchildren and Leap Manifesto Peterborough are hosting an all-candidates meeting on climate change and sustainability from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22nd at at Trinity United Church (360 Reid St., Peterborough. The meeting will focus on letting the candidates hear what their constituents feel on the issues, with the candidates responding at the end. Background information and questions have been sent to all provincial candidates in the areas of economic opportunities for the Peterborough area, natural spaces and biodiversity, agriculture and food, CO2 reduction, and a question from our youth community.
• Wednesday, May 23rd – The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting an all-candidates meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Lakefield Legion (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield). David Goyette will be moderating. The meeting will feature a question-and-answer session moderated by David Goyette.
• Thursday, May 24th – The Youth Political Activist Coalition is hosting an “Action Against Poverty” community town hall from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Kenner Collegiate (633 Monaghan Rd. S., Peterborough). The town hall will cover issues related to housing, food security, employment, education, basic income, and health care. Jeaf Leal, Sean Conway, Gianne Broughton, and Jacob Currier have confirmed they will attend. Dave Smith has declined, and Rob Roddick has yet to confirm. Marion Burton will be attending to represent the Peterborough Labour Council. The event will be moderated by Morgan Carl.
• CANCELLED – Monday, May 28th – The Peterborough Sales & Ad Club is hosting a debate between the NDP, Liberal, and Conservative party candidates for Peterborough—Kawartha at 7 p.m. at Holiday Inn – Waterfront (150 George St. N., Peterborough). Vince Bierworth of Country 105 and Energy 99.7 will moderate the debate. The debate will be preceded by a dinner at 6 p.m. for Sales & Ad Club members and guests only (doors open at 5:30 p.m.).
• Thursday, May 31st – The Trent University Faculty Association, CUPE 3908, and Peterborough District Labour Council are hosting an all-candidates meeting on labour issues from 6 to 8 p.m. at McDonnel Street Activity Centre (577 McDonnel St., Peterborough, K9H 2Y1). Refreshments will be provided.

Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock

• Wednesday, May 16th – The Lindsay Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates meeting at 7 p.m. at Mackey’s Celebrations (35 Lindsay St. N., Lindsay). Each candidate will make opening remarks followed by a question and answer session, moderated by Ward Levine (Treasurer, RTO-ERO, District 18).
• Monday, May 28th – The Halbiruton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pinestone Resort (4252 Haliburton County Rd. 21, Haliburton).

Northumberland—Peterborough South

• Thursday, May 10th – Local health organizations are hosting an all-candidates meeting on health issues from at 6 p.m. at Ganaraska Trails Public School (34 Percival St., Port Hope. There will be a meet and greet with the candidates at 6 p.m. followed by a discussion at 6:45 p.m. moderated by Lynda Kay.
• Tuesday, May 15th – The Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Campbellford District High School (119 Ranney St. N., Campbellford). The event will feature a meet and greet at 6 p.m. followed by a moderated question-and-answer session beginning at 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 17th – Retired Teachers of Ontario is hosting an all-candidates meeting at 7 p.m. at Best Western Cobourg (920 Burnham St., Cobourg).
• Wednesday, May 23rd – Newcastle Chamber of Commerce is hosting an all-candidates meeting at 7 p.m. at Clarke High School (3425 Hwy 35/115, Newcastle).
• Thursday, May 24th – Northumberland 89.7 is hosting an all-candidates meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. at Skeena Hall (17 Mill St. S., Port Hope). This is a formal Q&A debate with a moderator. Email your questions for consideration to 2018debate@northumberland897.ca.
• Wednesday, May 30th – Sustainable Cobourg is hosting an all-candidates meeting on environmental issues from 7 to 9 p.m. at HTM Insurance Company (1185 Elgin St. W., Cobourg). The format will be a Q&A session moderated by Jayne Finn. Email your environmentally related questions for consideration to sustainablecobourg@gmail.com.

Hastings—Lennox and Addington

• Thursday, May 24th – The Education Workers Political Action Committee is hosting an all-candidates meeting on education issues from 7 to 8 p.m. at North Hastings High School (14 Monck St., Bancroft).

Note: We will update this list as more events are announced. If you are hosting or are aware of an event not included above, please email details to editor@kawarthanow.com.