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Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op. Ke-ondaatiziying Conference 2014 “How Will We Sustain Ourselves?”. The Cloverbelt Local Food Co-operative aims to strengthen food security by encouraging diverse local food production , thereby enhancing overall rural sustainability .
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Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op Ke-ondaatiziying Conference 2014 “How Will We Sustain Ourselves?”
The Cloverbelt Local Food Co-operative • aims to strengthen food security • by encouraging diverse local food • production, thereby enhancing • overall rural sustainability. • We strive to foster a thriving local food • community by: • - cultivating & facilitating • farmer-consumer relationships; • - promoting the enjoyment of naturally • grown, fairly priced, healthy food; and • providing education & resources • regarding environmentally sensitive • agriculture
CLFC 2014 Strategic Plan Goal #1: Increase visibility & accessibility of local foods available for purchase
ONLINE FARMERS MARKET • Founded August 2013 • Based on 2011 Feasibility Study • To build on Locavore Program • Further develop area agriculture • To increase supply of local food • Ideally create opportunities for • Food entrepreneurs, and create jobs • Over 85 Members before 1st order cycle • December 2, 2103 • Consultant suggested 130 members to start
Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op • Year-round • Convenient: access anywhere • Access multiple producers • Order what you want, when • YOU are an owner • Order Saturday-Monday • Pick up Tuesdays • See what is available from home
Consumers • $25 Lifetime Membership Fee • Shop from multiple producers from home, work, or phone • One convenient weekly pick up • Choose which producers to support • Pay 10% fee towards operations (insurance, staff wages) • Current payment types are electronic money transfer, cash or cheque. Paypal & Visa/Mastercard in future. • PProducers • $50 Lifetime Membership Fee • Wholesale volume sales at close to retail prices • One weekly drop off • Set their own product prices • Pay 5% of sales towards operation costs • Retain ownership of product • Choose when and how much to sell
Goal #2 • To educate our community & surrounding area about the benefits of eating locally • Events: Rec Centre Winter Wellness, Dryden Hospital Wellness, Children’s Resource Centre, HighschoolEnvirodays • Newsletters • Website • Social Media (Facebook/Twitter)
Goal #3: • To increase the amount • Of NWO food purchased • Locally • Over $130,000 in sales in 9 months
Other Immediate Benefits • Producers from Emo, Kenora, Tbay • 5 producers now using local flour • Food Safety Handling Workshop • Encouraged volunteering • Resulting trained producers • Increased consumer confidence • 430 members, over 40 producers
What’s Next? • Greenhouse Project • Increased Marketing and Member Engagement Opportunities through a grant from the Co-operators Development Fund • Regional Food Mapping & Distribution
Community Greenhouse • Now: increase supply of local food • Educate: school tours & workshops • Rent plots to members • Central place to share skills • Invest in future producers
Do you live in a community that could benefit from a service like ours? Are their products being produced or harvested you could market? How might payment work in your community? Any Questions?
Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op Ordering Site See Us in Action