Organic Food Club

Organic food security would be a huge benefit for consumers and farmers and communities. Why has it not happened already? What is holding back the growth and development of organic food security in the Thompson – Okanagan region?

Research in the Okanagan, in BC, in Canada and in the USA all say the same things. We need organic infrastructure to provide aggregation and storage; distribution and commercial kitchens plus a place for workshops and instruction. The industrial agri-food complex has all these structures and more.

The organic sector needs multi-function facilities that are owned by the community of users. This is what seems to be working in other places.

The organic sector does have some dedicated commercial scale facilities e.g. apple sorting and packing facilities in Cawston. What else is needed?

There are lots of questions to answer. Talking in small groups about food security is a good way to ask questions and find answers. In fact, this might be the only way to do things.

Do we need a big organic mega-store and supply chain? Could we start with smaller mobile units to provide some of the needed functions? A few consumers and a few farmers working together.

What about a pop-up market by this heritage tree? Mobile distribution.

People could pick up their pre-paid order (made online) and others could come to shop if they know when the market is there. Who owns the mobile distribution point (truck)? What sort of legal structure?

Answers take lots of talking before something practical that can actually be done, emerges. This takes some time.

Brew clubs have operated for years to provide people with inexpensive wine and beer. People get a benefit but have to come in and bottle their own brew. That is the work needed to get a benefit from the club. Everyone one profits.

Could the same thing be done with organic food? Could we have an organic food club with consumer and farmer and community partner members?