About Eat Local Sudbury

Eat Local Sudbury Co-operative Inc. serves to increase the amount of locally-grown food products that are both purchased and produced within a150 mile radius of Sudbury. We do this by providing a retail space where "eaters" can buy local food and to where local farmers/producers can sell their food products.

We believe that we are providing a public service, which is why Eat Local Sudbury is non-profit in nature. Retail sales profits are re-invested into the co-op to pay for equipment, staff, and other overhead costs.

Both eaters and farmers/producers have the opportunity to become members of the co-op because we believe it is important for both groups to work together to create a sustainable food system. Eat Local Sudbury is governed by a Board of Directors that currently consists of both farmers and eaters from the local community.

Eating food that has been grown locally tastes better, helps support our local farmers and the local economy, and is better for the environment. That's why we subscribe to the Sudbury & Area Food Charter adopted by the City of Greater Sudbury in 2004.

Eat Local Sudbury started in October 2006, when a group of concerned farmers, consumers and food professionals came together to discuss ways to promote a local, sustainable food system. We discussed several solutions:

1. Promote Community Shared Agriculture in Sudbury by offering information sessions for farmers about the CSA concept; producing a brochure on CSA to educate the public; advertising existing CSA farms in Sudbury and area

2. Facilitate the purchase and consumption of locally-grown food in Sudbury by opening a co-op store where local farmers/producers can sell their products and where eaters can access a wide variety of local food products in one location.

3. Provide Education to the public about a local, sustainable food system through presentations, publications and events.

Eat Local Sudbury was incorporated in November 2007 as Eat Local Sudbury Co-operative Inc. The Eat Local Sudbury Co-operative store opened for business in Market Square on June 28^th, 2008.

Our Mission

The mission of Eat Local Sudbury is as follows:

Environment: Educate the public on the importance of local foods in reducing a city’s carbon footprint, and creating a sustainable, robust, food system.

Health: Facilitate the purchase of a wide variety of fresh, whole, locally-grown foods.

Community: Build relationships between Sudburians and local farmers who are growing and producing food products in Northern Ontario.

Economy: Keep food dollars within the community.

Decision Making

Decisions regarding the operation of Eat Local Sudbury are influenced by members who are involved and interested in the co-op. We want to hear from you about how the co-op should be run. We will be holding an Annual General Meeting where major decisions and policies are decided upon – every member receives one vote. Between these meetings the volunteer Board of Directors has the authority to make operating and policy decisions.

Here's some more information about our co-op memberships.

The People of Eat Local Sudbury

STAFF

176 rue Larch Street, Sudbury, ON P3E 1C5 (705) 521-6717

Emily Trottier, Coordinator/Coordinatrice info@eatlocalsudbury.com

Jessica Nadel, Marketing and Education Intern/Marketing et éducation marketing@eatlocalsudbury.com

April Neault, Local Produce Coordinator products@eatlocalsudbury.com

Amy Hallman, Regional FarmON Coordinator/Coordinatrice régionale de FarmON farmon@eatlocalsudbury.com

BOARD MEMBERS

Peter Wideman, Chair

Allison Muckle, vice-chair

Ernst Gerhardt, treasurer

Rocsan Vaillancourt, secretary

Aaron Dent, member

Anna Sheppard, member

Melanie Hunt, member

Kristina Donato, member