“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” – Robin Sharma 

Over the past couple of weeks on social media I have been noticing people participating and voicing their opinions on the “Loblaws Boycott.” I have challenged some of these people to connect with local farmers in their area as a viable option for groceries. Here are some of the responses that I have received. 

• “Those who don’t drive or have money to buy local should not be penalized.” 
• “The vast majority of Canadians don’t have access to that.”
• “Can’t imagine it would be cheaper (to buy local).”
• “It is hard to do and there are no savings.”
• “That is a privilege that the majority of people cannot afford.” 
• “Yaa.. it’ll cost you twice as much as Loblaws.”
• “That would be great but local farmers do not produce fruit and veg year round.” 

From what I’ve seen, the naysayers/doubters to buying farm direct groceries can be put into three categories. Accessibility, Affordability, Climatology. 

1. Accessibility

“The vast majority of Canadians do not have access to that (to a farmer).” This is the goal of our platform. We want to make farm direct groceries an option for all. If you think about it, you are typically 45 minutes away from a farm. 

One of the most common myths about the farm to fridge concept is that you need a vehicle. Many farmers will facilitate some sort of delivery. It may not be as fast as your Amazon order, but they will get it to you! This process might take a bit of coordination as farmers have a tendency to create their own schedule. This may change the way you shop but that’s not to say it is not accessible. 

2. Affordability 

“Yaa.. it’ll cost you twice as much (to buy local groceries).” There are a lot of angles to look at this issue. Firstly, you are likely getting a superior product. So yes, it should cost a bit more, right? 

The next angle is the farmer’s market angle. A lot of people think of the word expensive or unaffordable when they hear the word farmers market. The simple explanation for this is that convenience costs money. Producers have to pay an annual fee to be able to sell at these markets. This fee can be upwards of $2,500 dollars. You also have to factor in the fact that most farmers markets are on the weekend so farmers have to sacrifice that time or pay someone just to sell their products. 

Angle number three is how we consume our groceries. For example, when you buy a ¼ beef you get all of the cuts for the same price. T-bone steaks for $7 dollars a pound! Now you might say, I don’t have the money for a ¼ beef, and I do not have the freezer room for that amount of protein. “Fractional Fresh” is a term that we have come up with for this. Team up with some friends and neighbours, purchase a full beef from the farmer, and divide the costs amongst your friends. It’s that simple! You are getting the same savings for a fraction of the price. 

3. Climatology 

“That would be great but local farmers do not produce fruit and veg year round.” Obviously produce cannot be grown in Northern parts of North America. However, food preservation techniques can be easy to learn. Canning and freezing produce can be an efficient and affordable option to obtaining quality food year round. 

Our goal is to make local groceries the new normal. They may be less convenient and yes grocery stores will always have a role to play. In a world of instant gratification and subpar nutrition change can be gorgeous. 

G’day is a platform that connects you with local farms and producers, allowing you to buy your groceries straight from the folks that produce them. From produce to protein, wine to cheese, you’ll find it on G’day!