Wildsight Elk Valley has released an impact report for Local grocery store in downtown Fernie, showing a positive trend in growth of support for regional food producers.
Local was founded three years ago to help increase access to regional produce and support food producers, and the report notes the store has indeed put a significant amount of cash back in the pockets of businesses. $304,000 was paid to farmers and food producers in 2023, and 42 per cent of this money stayed in the Elk Valley. Over 110 different kinds of fruits and vegetables were sold last year, as well as eggs, honey, meat and prepared foods.
The Feed the Need program was launched last year, which helped provide low-income households in the Elk Valley with fresh local goods. The year-round program was a partnership between Local and Fernie Women's Resource Centre. Donations helped the store provide gift cards for people in need for a total of 50 households last year.
Wildsight's Fresh Picks Club and its dedicated volunteers and vendors supported store operations.
Donations to Feed the Need can be made at the till at Local or online at www.wildsight.ca/feedtheneed
