Where is your chocolate from??

With the recent food scare involving tainted milk product in China (now there are eggs in China that contain melamine), what scares me is that the Canadian government allows manufacturers to simply state 'imported by...' on their packaging.
So, the chocolate covered peanuts that I purchased a week ago that were 'imported by ******** of Canada' could have been made as close as the US, or maybe in...China??? I know there are law-abiding companies there, but lately, it's the ones that want to make $$ by faking protein content (adding melamine to fool the tester) so that they can water down the product.
I work in a produce department, and there are sign police that come around to check signage. Sign police, you scoff. But it is true. To date, I haven't seen the actual 'sign police', but more their advance scouts, the ones that warn the higher ups if there is cause for alarm. What happens? The store could get a fine if their signs do NOT state country of origin, or if the sign incorrectly states country of origin. So if that apple sign says Canada and they're US, it could cost us.

But what about that chocolate company? And other food manufacturers? It's not just pesticide usage we worry about now, but ingredients in processed food.

Here is a comment I just sent to the chocolate company who imported those chocolate covered peanuts:
"I recently purchased a box of Glosette chocolate covered peanuts, believing I was purchasing a product made in Canada. After eating, I happened to look at the box and was dismayed to see not a 'made in Canada', but an 'imported by...' note.
With all the recent food scares, I couldn't believe that I now had NO idea where the product was made.

What I do not understand is why produce is required to have a country of origin, or the grocery store gets a hefty fine. Why on earth are products created with multiple ingredients allowed to get by with simply 'imported by'?
I thought I read that the Canadian government was going to change this, and it would be nice to see food manufacturers adding 'made in...' or 'country of origin' to their packaging even before this became mandatory. I think customers would greatly appreciate this.
I thank you for your time. "

I am curious to see what their response would be.

Now, as a consumer, would you prefer manufacturers wait for legislation forcing them to add this pertinent information, or would you be impressed that the food manufacturer cared enough about their customers to jump the gun and add this before it's mandatory?

Just testing

Testing out inserting a paypal button. It also works without going to Edit Html

First steps...

I've been thinking and planning a business in my head for a few years now. Hem-ing and haw-ing about starting, nervous about taking that first step toward my brick and mortar yarn shop--which would have an internet counterpart!
Last night, after talking to a woman after our school council meeting, I decided I had nothing to lose (at this stage!) checking into it. Worse case scenario: nothing happens. Best case: I open the door to my shop each morning to open up!
I have taken one baby step: I've talked to someone who can help me with setting up.
And another baby step: I've contacted a few yarn companies to inquire about wholesale terms.

One of the harder steps (the phrase "Watch out, that first step's a doozie!" comes to mind) to me will be NAMING my store. Another one will be telling my husband. And when. Now, in the planning stages so he can quickly kill the little sprout with "we can't afford it" or "I could be laid off"...after I manage to procure a small business loan...or after the shop's doors are officially open.

Now, apart from naming it (hey, if you have any suggestions, I'm open at present!), thoughts of what to stock besides yarns run through my head.
Buttons, beads, hooks and needles, patterns...all pretty basic.

What would YOU like to see in a local yarn store? Feel free to comment with suggestions.