THE FOOD SHED
Local Food for Local Communities
The Food Shed is an Armstrong-based wholesale warehouse connecting our community’s schools, institutions, social service agencies and non-profit organizations to year-round, local, affordable, food grown by regional farmers.
The Food Shed connects small-to medium-scale farmers and community organizations through a centralized warehouse that supports a sustainable local food system. It offers farmers a reliable wholesale outlet and gives regional food buyers access to affordable, locally grown produce—strengthening the local food economy.
“It is through initiatives like this that real, positive changes can be made in food access and food security for all families in our province.”
– Eric Larocque, Rocky Mountain School District, Feeding Futures program
The Food Shed Vision
Local food flows seamlessly from the land and local producers, to organizations in service to our communities.
The Food Shed Mission
Connecting regional food producers with agency partners and schools through a warehouse that helps to ensure year-round access to fresh, affordable, locally grown food.
“This unique, centralized distribution will increase sales opportunities for local producers, increasing employment and revenue, while at the same time, it will help meet the growing demand that schools, food banks and non-profits experience for affordable food for the people they serve.”
– Liz Blakeway, Executive Director, Land to Table Network
The Food Shed will operate out of the Rancho Vignola building, as a centralized procurement, primary processing, packing and distribution point. We plan to:
- Undertake crop contracting to provide market predictability for farm businesses
- Sell and distribute fresh, raw, whole food in bulk
- Do primary processing – chop, dice, grate, cube and package produce as cold and frozen product (that can be used in large batch meal preparation – like school meal programs)
- Provide cold and frozen food storage for farmers and organizations
- Explore processing space rentals
- Develop co-packing and cross docking opportunities (to facilitate preserving local food and help community organizations get food from A to B)
- Facilitate large-volume food donations to deliver to food banks and social service agencies (who couldn’t otherwise accept high volumes)
- Provide a membership and credit structure – for supply and demand; where a membership offers benefits like marketing and space access; a credit system will make donated food available to local organizations
- Provide fair prices for farmers, and affordable prices for buyers
CONTACT US …
to learn more about The Food Shed, how to supply to us, or to enquire about placing an order
Funders
United Way
Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction