Janet McNeill

<written for the North Renfrew Times in June 2008>

“Shopping locally” can be quite satisfying, can’t it? Supporting local businesses by keeping our dollars in our own communities is actually a very sane strategy on several fronts.

It’s good for the local economy, it’s good for the people we live among who produce the goods or services, and it saves us money on the transportation expenses incurred when we do our shopping elsewhere.

In the case of food, “shopping local” also helps to reduce chemical inputs, and leads to lowered greenhouse gas emissions and their associated climate change impacts.

As James Howard Kunstler points out in the peak oil documentary “The End of Suburbia” (highly recommended viewing!), the “3000-mile Caesar salad” is headed straight for extinction.

As cheap oil supplies dwindle (have you noticed the price of gas lately?), we are being encouraged to “re-localize” our economy. Whatever else may take place in the world around us, and whatever our views on environmental issues, we still need to eat!

Gardening ourselves, shopping at local farmers’ markets, belonging to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation, and joining a food cooperative are all ways in which we can “re-localize.”

We are thus very fortunate here in the Ottawa Valley to be able to take part in the brand-new Ottawa Valley Food Co-operative! The OVFC came into being after a number of people were inspired by Bob Waldrop, the man behind the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, who gave a weekend workshop about local food initiatives at the Marguerite Centre in Pembroke in February 2007.

The OVFC has been set up by a county-wide group of volunteers keen on local eating, many of whom have contributed amazing amounts of their time and energy. The group became incorporated this past December, had its first delivery day in March, and, happily, is now growing like the proverbial weed! The group has successfully applied for funding and has recently hired a part-time staff person. More news will be upcoming about OVFC’s grants and project plans.

The OVFC is an Internet-based ordering system, based on the Oklahoma model, and works like this: consumers pay $50 for a lifetime membership, producers pay $100, and you join by signing up on the Web sitehttp://www.ottawavalleyfood.org/

During the first week of the month, producers update the Web site and list what they have available. During the second week, consumers place their orders on-line. On the third Saturday of the month, the ordered goods are delivered to a central “depot” in Pembroke, where Pembroke members pick up their food. Those who live anywhere else around the county pick up their orders at a location in their own community.

On each order, producers are charged a 10% administration fee, and consumers 5%. This money is to cover costs such as mileage, cooler purchases and other monthly co-operative expenses (e.g. facility rental).

By now, I expect you’re wondering what you can buy through the co-op. By all means, check this out for yourself on the Web site.

At this writing, there are 364 products available. Meat-wise, these include beef, lamb, pork, bison and sausages. There are also honey, teas, hemp products, coffee, heirloom seeds and plants, whole grains, granolas, soaps, vegan foods, “yogic lifestyle products,” ghee, fruit juices, nature photo cards, soup and biscuit and muffin mixes, hand-spun wool – and, as the growing season progresses, there will be plenty of fresh produce.

The list of products and producers is impressive – and it just keeps growing!

All products must be produced in the Ottawa Valley or, if not produced here (e.g., coffee beans), processed or had “value added” here.

You needn’t give a darn about environmental issues in general, climate change/peak oil in particular, or even place particular value on the benefits of supporting the local economy, in order to become an enthusiastic member of the Ottawa Valley Food Co-operative. You just need to enjoy good food and good eating!

The next OVFC delivery day will be on June 21st. On July 5th, the group will have a “grand opening day” celebration at the Marguerite Centre in Pembroke – and you’re invited! July’s delivery day will be on the 19th. Why not consider joining us?