Feast of the Fields

[cakadu]

In terms of farmer owned stores, there are several that operate and do quite well. One of them is Feast of the Fields that they have in Ontario. One forward thinking chef here in Alberta tried to get something like that going, but I don't think it was the right time and place. The one in Ontario is now big enough that it has people coming to it as well as chefs from various restaurants who buy their produce etc. right from the producer.

Here in Alberta, she just tried to get the chefs out, had it once or twice, but it didn't really catch on at that time. Now with many restaurants, one in Edmonton comes to mind, wanting to give customers what they want when they dine out, have little cards advertising where various meats etc. come from, how they are raised and so forth. It's now catching on.

I for one, would like to try to get something like this going again, as I think the time is right for this to occur. It could link the producer directly with customers and that can be a great thing.

Takes time and effort to be sure, but value-adding, diversification and niche marketing - all giving the customer what they want and growing what you can sell are growing in importance. It's a field to fork concept and it is catching on more and more.

[rodbradshaw]

Cakadu
Collen Biggs is doing some of this. Also Cuisine Canada was looking at hooking Chefs up with local producers but it still takes a middle man as some one has to fill th gaps because of inconsistency of supply.

[rodbradshaw]

We already have a potential store out there. Federated Co-op should or could be brought on side so there is a distribution system without having to reinvent the wheel. Farmers would then have to deliver the customers so that the Co-op would keep stocking the shelves.

[countryguy]

What needs to be done is getting groups of producers together to ensure a consistent supply of product.In the case of meats we would have to get people that are willing to change their calving/kidding,etc dates so that there is product available at all times.

[rodbradshaw]

You got it. Farmers have to create value chains where we ensure supply and consistency. An individual can not do it alone in this day and age and expect the consumer to buy somewhere else for 6-8 months because we can't deliver.