Their store is located downtown about 3 minutes from the bus depot and filled with many local food products from this area of Ontario. It is very nice to be able to buy local vegetables, grain, milk, and meat without having to wait until the Saturday morning market, or in my case until next spring, as the market here closed down in December! They've got a lovely map of Ontario on the wall of the store with pins for all of the farmers that supply them, as well as descriptions of each farm and what products they supply. It is great that they have created a central location where these farmers can display their products, without having to constantly man the booth or do their own marketing. I know it seems very similar to the grocery store concept, and I'd imagine that the only thing that keeps it under control is the farmers who sit on the board of the co-operative.
I personally bought some honey, rolled oats (for the bread I'm making tomorrow) and some delicious dried apple slices to munch on during the movie I was about to go see with friends. Yum yum, even better than popcorn!!...
For more information on finding local foods near you, please visit: Find Local Foods/100 Mile Challange or Farmers Markets of Canada
Wow I wish we had something like that here. Instead we've got a crowded, confusing market.
ReplyDeleteThe saddest thing about it is that I bought some lettuce there (I figured it was greenhouse grown) and when I got it home I noticed a sticker on it that said "Grown in the USA"!
I was pissed.
yes I know exactly how you feel! You've got to be really careful to talk to the vendors and deferentiate between the actual farmers and the guys just looking to cash in on the farmers market 'trend'...which can be a challenge in and of itself if you are shy, like me!
ReplyDeletewhich you know I am. :)
ReplyDelete