Naturally North Bay’s Post

In Wards 7 and 8, where there are three full-service grocery stores 🏬 for 147,000 residents (for reference, the majority White Ward 3 has 13 for 77,000 residents), innovative solutions that support food access are pivotal in the face of disinvestment and underinvestment due to historically racist policies.     Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture - the Bainum Foundation Farm's original food security partner - works to build a more equitable and sustainable food system in the region. Pamela Hess, Samantha Pounder, Matt Mulder and their team work tirelessly to bring healthy, regionally grown food to neighborhoods in the District that are not served by traditional grocers (you know who you are 👀) Arcadia’s Mobile Markets serve eight stops in the city – six in Wards 7 and 8 – offering produce, dairy and protein all sourced within 125 miles of the District. Mobile Markets accept:   🥦 SNAP 🍼 WIC 👵 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program 🥕 Produce Plus 💵 Cash-ola 💳 Credit/Debit   Sales at market demonstrate the unmet demand for healthy food in disinvested neighborhoods, and since 2017, the Markets have over $1.1M in sales. But revenue doesn’t cover the total cost of operations – Arcadia needs your support! You can volunteer, donate as an individual, or make a massive and substantial donation ( 💵 💵 💵 ) through your organization.   Now you know - so help them grow! Home | Mobile Market (arcadiamobilemarket.org)

Having been upskilled by our OG regen expert Charlie (who has passed on her coach baton to Richard and Rebecca) I JUMPED at the chance to get to Groundswell Agriculture this year 💯 Regen agriculture unlocks the very mission of Future Food Movement > to take action on climate AND health at the same time. I saw some of my personal heroes yesterday and listened to the very real day-to-day challenges we face, although with shoots of progress that were not there two years ago. The biggest takeaway for me is: Can you proactively, positively pursuade someone on your board to get upskilled in regen ag? To go to Groundswell Agriculture next year? We can’t have the same companies approaching procurement in two opposing ways ~ farmers will grow what the market requires ~ let’s require regenerative food! >>>>   Future Food Movement is a membership community to upskill the food industry to take action on the biggest challenge of our generation: climate + health.   Get involved. 🚀 Join the movement: https://lnkd.in/e_rF7ZGe

Happy National Ag Day! 🍉🫛🍅 🥦 Today, we not only celebrate the land that sustains us but also remember a vital lesson: just like our fields, people too need to rest. Much like land, people perform better when restored. My Keynote talk for a F&B conference last year was titled " From Rest to ROI" and I truly live my life and run my business with that in mind. Without allowing ourselves the time to recharge, we can't expect to make a meaningful impact. This year, FarmerJawn is embarking on an ambitious journey to grow 1 million pounds of food. It's a testament to our commitment to nourish our community and the earth. But we know it takes more than just hard work—it takes a community.🤝 I invite you to become a member of FarmerJawn today and be part of something truly groundbreaking. Together, we can cultivate a healthier, more sustainable and equitable world.🔗 Join us now: https://lnkd.in/ebR6CzvM Use code: WMNFARM for 10% off. #NationalAgDay #SustainableFarming #CommunityAgriculture #FarmerJawn #RestToROI #RegenerativeOrganic

• B • C O R P • 🌱 Exciting News: Ellers Farm Distillery Becomes a Certified B Corp®!🌍 Below, we’ve highlighted a few of the ways we’ve tried to increase our positive impact on the environment, employees and local community: 💷 For positive employee impact we created a unique profit share model by which 20% of the company’s profits will be distributed to employees. This avoids the complications of employee shareholder models while ensuring a portion of the wealth created by the business is distributed to those who work for the business. 🌴 In an effort to both engage employees and impact climate projects around the world, we have a Climate Positive Workforce subscription in partnership with Ecologi. Through this programme we have supported the planting of over 5,000 trees around the world to date. 🍎 And to positively impact nature surrounding the distillery, along with a dozen volunteers, our employees planted 2.5 acres of apple trees in the adjacent fields. These trees not only remove carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, but create a biodiverse habitat that benefits local pollinators, birds, and mammals. 🌟 What is a B Corp? B Corps, or Benefit Corporations, are businesses committed to balancing purpose and profit. They undergo a rigorous assessment that evaluates their impact on the environment, workers, customers, community, and governance. Achieving B Corp status signifies our unwavering commitment to creating positive change in the world. 🌎 What This Means for You By choosing Ellers Farm Distillery products, you’re not only indulging in exceptional spirits, but you’re also supporting a company that prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability. Our commitment to transparency means you can trust that every bottle you enjoy has been crafted with care for people and the planet. Thank you 🤝🏻 And a huge hats off to our Head of Sustainability- Tabatha Hurst a lot of work went into this, huge moment! 🙌🏻 #bcorp #bcorporation #bcorpcommunity #bcorpcertified #bethechange #businessasaforceforgood #sustainability #spirits #distillery B Lab B Corp UK Ellers Farm Distillery Dutch Barn Vodka

Another vital marker 📍 to proof that the plant based market is NOT in a slump or on its way out: Upfield recently made a bold move to make their Flora range 100% vegan again. And it’s paying off in a big way, according to new documents. 📃 Boasting record sales, the UK branch of the company has seen a turnover of £242 million in 2023, up from just under £228 million the previous year, with pre-tax profits soaring to £18 million from £10.5 million in 2022. 💰 This was followed from Upfield’s October 2023 announcement that all Flora Buttery products would be vegan, reversing a 2020 recipe change that had added buttermilk. 🌱 (Note: Flora had previously been plant-based since it was created in 1965…) This change alignes with Upfield’s goal of making all its products plant-based, though they sadly haven't confirmed a timeline for this transition yet. 👀 #FreedomFoodAlliance #VeganBusiness #PlantBased #Sustainability #FoodInnovation #FloraButtery #Upfield

At Narrative Food, each of our gifts is designed to tell a story. We have worked with hundreds of vendors over the years, listening to their stories and sharing them with you. In this new series, we are honored to spotlight a few of our favorite small-batch makers in their own words. Read our interview with Jeanette Greenlaw, the Director of Business Development at Bona Furtuna. #bcorp #b1 #1percentfortheplanet #wethechange,#storytelling,#sustainablefood #eatkind,#sustainableshopping,#businessasaforceforgood #consciouscapitalism,#esg #environmentalsocialgovernance,#giftsthatgiveback #giftwithpurpose #impactfulgiving

We're thrilled to spotlight The Farmhouse Butchery, a beacon of sustainability and cultural heritage, and one of the 22 inaugural recipients of the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty program in British Columbia. This landmark $30 million initiative aims to bridge the gap in supporting Indigenous agriculture, with The Farmhouse Butchery leading the charge towards a more sustainable and culturally respectful food economy. Through vital upgrades enabled by the program, they are setting new standards in the industry by merging traditional practices with modern sustainability. Dean Maynard, a driving force behind the Butchery, shares, “It’s in an area where a lot of people needed this. It’s a dying art. All the farmers in this area are amazing... and when they bring it in our butchers take care of it and they’re ready to go.” This reflection underscores the critical role of The Farmhouse Butchery in reviving traditional skills and supporting local farmers, while also emphasizing the importance of sustainability and community service. Their journey, marked by significant upgrades such as building a new, safer road to the facility, enhancing sanitation systems, and modernizing equipment, is not just a tale of business growth but a testament to their commitment to environmental stewardship and cultural integrity. The Butchery's efforts to convert waste into compost and plans for solar power generation exemplify their innovative approach to being a "greener operation." Let's celebrate the ways in which Indigenous businesses like The Farmhouse Butchery are leading the way in food sovereignty and sustainable practices. #FoodSovereignty #SustainableAgriculture #IndigenousExcellence #FarmhouseButchery

Thanks to Seattle Times Staff Writer Erika and Photojournalist Allison for the great coverage of the growers, makers, and delivery folks in our network at Food Loop Northwest, Alvarez Organics, and Food Oasis! The issue is real and the "boom" that happened during the pandemic must be sustained as an on-going "Food is Infrastructure" movement if we are to continue to innovate, elevate, and bring real long lasting solutions to our struggling regional food system! The EFOD Collaborative has fiscally supported and elevated this work nationally with a variety of technical and strategic approaches from around the country while a small group of us co-created the successful Black Food Sovereignty Coalition(#bfscpdx) in PDX from 2020 - 2023. My personal work in land use planning, food systems, and equitable development is now moving forward as Food Loop Northwest (#foodloopnw) for the next iteration of local to regional cold-chain and food product/value-added led by a cooperative of growers, makers, and practitioners in Washington and Oregon. #efod #foodequity #equitabledevelopment #bcorp #bipocbusinessdevelopment #foodasinfrastructure #blackfoodmakers #foodsystemsinnovation #kresgefoundation #daisaenterprises #prosperportland #nextlevel #foodsystemsstartups

🥕 What do we really want from food? How can we make it fairer, healthier and greener? 🥕   Last month, our co-founder Hannah Barlow joined our Partner Sue Pritchard from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Marija Rompani, Charlotte Hollins and James Perry at the recent Oxford Farming Conference. 📊 78% of Brits think we need to change how we do food. 75% think everyone should be able to afford healthy food. And a whopping 77% believe in having high standards for health and the environment. 📊 The panel discussed the role of business in enabling healthy habits, the role of Government intervention in the food system and the huge stake that the public has in this conversation as, quite simply, everyone eats. What's your take on this? Share your thoughts below 👇 and if you want to know more, email us at [email protected] 🌱 #FoodTalks #Sustainability #Changemakers #TheFoodConversation