The Local Store, the Elk Valley’s first year-round locally grown produce shop, opened in December 2020.
And now at just over two years old, it has shown continued growth and community support.
Wildsight Elk Valley has released Local’s second Annual Impact Report, which reports over $290,900 was paid to local food businesses in 2022, 43 per cent of which stayed in the Elk Valley. Over half a million dollars have now been sent to small farms and food producers since the store’s opening two years ago.
Local began with 17 vendors and has now grown to more than 80. The variety of local food available has continued to expand, and currently ranges from farm-fresh eggs and meat, to honey, flour, prepared meals, and local produce, including 90 different types of fruit and vegetables sold over the course of 2022.
“A highlight of 2022 was securing grant funding from Second Harvest, enabling Local to provide over $18,000 worth of locally-produced food to vulnerable community members through a partnership with the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre,” said Local store coordinator Jennifer Lennon.
Over 75 families and individuals participated in the eight-week program, and feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Lennon says that one participant noted that they normally wouldn’t be able to afford the amount of fresh produce that they received through the program.
“Another called the local products on offer “good food, that you feel good about feeding to your family.”
Local served over 730 customers per month, up 23 per cent from 2021.
Wildsight Elk Valley would like to thank all of their dedicated volunteers, vendors, Fresh Picks Club donors, and customers, who support the store with their time, donations, and passion for local food security.