BADDECK, N.S. — Members of the Pan Cape Breton Food Hub are eating up the first year of a winter ordering initiative that’s bringing fresh local foods from farm to plate.
Second orders for the new initiative will be ready for pickup this week and they are expected to be even bigger than the initial 60 requests put in when the program began at the start of the new year.
The food hub is a distribution link between local food producers and consumers, designed to create a sustainable food system by increasing the viability of local producers as it improves access to local food.
Until this year the hub only operated from June to December.
“People were asking for it because you get to Christmas and they are really sad that we are finished,” said Wynn MacNeil, the vice-president of the food hub.
“Sometimes it is November or December — it’s based on availability and how the growing season went.”
Fresh micro greens, honey and potatoes were all part of the first two winter orders. Local chicken, beef and pork, as well as baked goods have also proven popular.
New consumers and new producers have already signed on since the program began, giving hope to the long-term sustainability goals of the hub initiative.
“It is looking after consumers but we want our farmers, our producers, to have that market too because you need all of it happening. It is really important for them to have that availability to market. We just thought we’d try and see what happens.”
Pan Cape Breton Food Hub
- A distribution link between local food producers and consumers,
- 250 members
- 48 producers
- 10-person board of directors includes producers, consumers and restaurants.
- Online — https://capebreton.localfoodmarketplace.com/
Giving a producer a market for locally produced foods during the winter, MacNeil said, means they can start to consider adjusting summer and fall production during the upcoming planting season.
“They will be able to put more down with the knowledge that they will have a market for it after Christmas. We are finding our way and they are, so we really expect to see more in carrots and onions and garlic and good squash because they know they can get it to market.”
In terms of sustainability, that could be a boost for some local producers who are already making gains on efforts to make their operations sustainable on a year-round basis.
“We have a couple of farmers that were able to hire people,” MacNeil said.
“In one farm in particular, one of the folks was working off-farm to sustain them but now they are both on-farm with help. We have another farmer that has full-time resources with him now and sometimes even brings others on, so we can see what is happening for producers. That’s what you want. You want that sustainability. If they are going to invest and make this available, it has to be sustainable for them.”
Food hub members are excited by the expanded ordering season, too.
“Being able to order local food throughout the winter is fantastic,” said Andrew MacIntyre. “I would encourage people who don’t belong to join so you can access local foods easily and support local farmers, even in February.”
Anyone can join the food hub and order using its online system. Pick up locations for winter orders are in Baddeck, Ingonish and Sydney. Home delivery is also available in the Sydney areas through CBEats.
Visit the food hub website — https://capebreton.localfoodmarketplace.com/ — for more information.
