Innovative co-op uses internet to promote local food, better earnings for farmers
Consumers will pay more for local food
By Nick Muggeridge
OTTAWA VALLEY – It’s as simple as World Wide Web. Now in its second year, the Ottawa Valley Food Co-operative has 220 members and 35 producer-members. It uses a unique internet-based order/delivery system that is the first of its kind in Canada. On June 5
th, it was awarded $5,000, as one of the regional winners of the Premier’s Agri-Food Innovation Excellence award.The co-operative’s mission is to promote locally grown food, ecological growing methods, and transparency in food production. But it also aims to increase farm incomes and boost the local economy.
Members place an order on the website for the products they need each week. Producers are then informed on-line as to the amount of products they need to supply. Once a month, members can collect their food at delivery centres throughout the Ottawa Valley.
The co-op is beneficial for its producers because it sets its own retail prices for products — allowing farmers to increase their incomes.
Before joining the cooperative, Colin Walsh had poor sales for his potatoes at the farmers market, unable to sell them for even $1 per pound. Since joining the co-op, he has seen a dramatic increase in sales, while setting a premium price of $1.65/lb.
Dwight Mick, another producer/member, sets a 5% premium on his beef products and has earned an extra $400 to 500 more a month.
Even though the food prices in the co-op are "somewhat higher than at a grocery store," says co-op Coordinator Christine Anderman, "trends suggest that consumers are willing to spend more on local food."
With 220 members, the co-op provides a stable market for producers.
"It’s a very good thing," Walsh says, "You know (your products) will be sold."
"There are times when it is convenient to add further marketing for your products," says pork producer Gary MacDonell, "(The co-op) is perfect for this."
The concept of an internet-based food co-operative was pioneered in Oklahoma City by a man named Robert Waldrop. In a promotional trip to Pembroke in 2007, Waldrop introduced a unique computer program that would allow communication between farmers and community members. The idea appealed to local Ottawa Valley residents, and they decided to start up their very own food co-op.
The co-op recruits new members and producers through its website (www.ottawavalleyfood.org), and by sending representatives to various local events to give presentations.
"(Membership) is growing faster than expected," says Anderman, "We’re getting a lot of good feedback from farmers and consumer spending habits (on local food) are looking very good."