MBiz

T he local farmers' market was rolling along quite nicely in Boissevain, considering it was only open for three hours, one day a week during the summer.  But those limited hours meant the farm-to-plate journey was not happening for a lot of families. People needed a better way to source food directly from producers, so a steering committee was struck to brainstorm ideas. The solution: The Rural Roots Food Co-operative, whose motto is "Neighbours Feeding Neighbours." Founding member Casey Guenther, a graphic designer who runs the co-op's website, says a lot of thought went into the co-op, which opened Oct. 24. "It's been about a year and a half or two years of conversations," he says. Fundraising efforts like barbecues, sales of T-shirts and $50 memberships and even shelf and cooler sponsorships got the ball rolling. People clearly wanted the co-op; the trick was where to house it. That's where the Sawmill Tea & Coffee Co. came in. Operated by Prairie Partners Inc., which provides employment for youth and people with disabilities, the Sawmill is a unique café and bookstore. "They run a non-profit café that's got everything from specialty coffee to desserts and snacks and lunches. It is also a used bookstore and a music venue," Guenther says. "It's a real community hangout, a warm place with nice couches and a great atmosphere." The Sawmill was looking for a way to get more people in the door, and partnering with Rural Roots was an opportunity not only to share a customer base, but to share resources and staffing as well. And the Sawmill had something else Western the food co-op really needed: A commercial kitchen. "It allows our local producers to create products and sell them right there. That was really huge because we've got a lot of people that make jams and other items, and the rules are different for farmers' markets and retail outlets." The co-op will start with a modest inventory that includes vegetables and farm-fresh meats, along with ice cream from Anola's Cornell Creme. Gradually, they'll expand to prepared food such as pasta and tortillas from small-scale producers. They'll even have local wheat and flax to grind for flour. As for seasonality, Guenther says if you walk into the store in February, you're not going to find all the things you would find in a large supermarket. But you'll find what you need. "We were completely blown away with what is available year-round in Manitoba. There are value-added things, whether it's perogies or garlic sausage. But there is also vegetables and wild rice, so there will be lots of really neat things. But it is a real shift from what we consider to be 'normal' grocery shopping with access to everything all the time." As a community-service co-op, the store will be open to all shoppers year-round. "The prices are all the same regardless if you're a member or not. We want to be accessible to all and not be exclusive in any way. Members will have other benefits when we do events and they will have deals on that, but as far as the day-to-day sales go, it's open to everyone." Visit the co-op at 296 South Railway St. in Boissevain and check out its producers online. www.ruralrootsfood.ca Boissevain & District Chamber of Commerce Brandon Chamber of Commerce Carberry & District Chamber of Commerce Cypress River Chamber of Commerce Deloraine & Area Chamber of Commerce Elkhorn District Chamber of Commerce Melita & District Chamber of COmmerce Souris & Glenwood Chamber of COmmerce VIRden & Area Community Chamber of COmmerce Waskada & Area Chamber of Commerce New & Noteworthy >> Businesses in Brandon and Boissevain were recipients of the province's Century Recognition Business Awards during Small Business Week in October. Reesor's Jewellery Ltd. of Brandon was established in 1882 by David Anson Reesor. It was bought by A.E. Duffield in 1958 and is still operated by the Duffield family. Its clock has been at the corner of Ninth Street and Rosser Avenue for more than a century. Pringles' Men's Wear of Boissevain opened as Welch's Men's Furnishings in 1894. It maintained the same location from 1898 to 2000 and was bought by Wayne and Del Pringle in 1963. >> The Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Mental Health Services Brandon honoured Trevor Hallson and Kevin Boyd with 2013 Best Bosses Awards. Hallson is manager at RBC's downtown branch and Boyd is executive director at Career Connections. The award is handed out in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week. >> WestJet Encore president Ferio Pugliese was among the passengers on the airline's first direct flight from Calgary to Brandon on Sept. 3. The city held a celebration at Brandon Municipal Airport to mark the launch of daily service between the cities. >> Manitoba Alternative Food Research Alliance helped fund an online small farms directory to help connect producers with consumers. Founder Kalynn Spain plans to launch the site in January. www.freelancinfarmer.blogspot.ca MBiz November 2013 27 Western Farmers at The Kitchen Garden (top centre), Luna Field Farm (top right), Fresh Roots Farm (middle left) ) and Fairlight Farm (bottom right) are among the producers supplying fresh meat and vegetables to the new co-op.

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