I view access to a variety of local and “more local” food sources as an important part of building and strengthening our food systems at a grass roots level. (Like any product, if you don’t know it exists or where to get it, you can’t buy it. That means you can’t support the farmer, who may have to stop producing it, so now your only option is to get it from far away places… It’s a downward spiral.)
When my fellow community gardener Daryl told me about NOW BC, a member-owned food co-operative that operates within Metro Vancouver, BC, I asked him how he got involved.
“My initial reason for joining NOW BC was that I know the guy who started it. But besides that, there are several other strong reasons:
- It’s a co-op where members have a say in how it’s run and share in its success. This means that profit isn’t a primary motive like other businesses.
- Delivery ‘clubs’ allow fellow members within neighbourhoods to meet and form ‘community’ around the important topic of local and organic food. Individual delivery can’t do this. One club has started a ‘two-block diet’ network where they all grow food in their yards to share with each other.
- And, prices are cheaper than other organic delivery services.
Plus, I think it’s important to support local organic farmers so they can continue to make a good living.”
If you want to be a part of the NOW BC network, find a delivery depot in your neighbourhood or start your own.