Rooted in Sustainability - 25 Years of Urban Harvest
“Rooted in Sustainability” – 25 Years of Urban Harvest ~ Jun 14, 2025
Urban Harvest Guiding Considerations
Purpose/Vision: Connecting growers/makers and eaters in service of a more sustainable local food system: “Bringing the Farm” to Central Okanagan households since 2000!
Supportive Purchasing: Local AND certified organic first, then local non-organic produce (when growing methods align), then certified organic from elsewhere (BC first, then Canada, then as close to home as possible – though the 2025 political economy favours buying MEX before USA!). We work with suppliers to increase our local supply through crop planning, logistics coordination, purchasing loyalty/commitment, and fair payment. For non-produce items, we purchase local/BC only, certified organic when available. All items are listed with origin/source, so customers can select where their food is coming from.
Customer Service Orientation: Making access easier for busy consumers - no-fee delivery, flexible scheduling, customizable boxes, add-on options (local eggs, bread, dairy, tofu, etc), caring customer service, quality guarantee/compensation, education/information
Balancing fair pay for producers + staff with accessibility/affordability for consumers - by keeping overhead low (frugality lens) and margins lean, careful order planning + inventory management, daily hands-on involvement of owner/operator
Extending our reach/ supporting community wellness –regular weekly donations to Salvation Army Foodbank + Bridge Youth & Family Services, Friday discounted/PWYC grab boxes, community involvement and support (regular food donations + gift cert donations), RCA sponsorship, GoByBike sponsorship, etc.
ETHIC: We do this with CARE + EFFORT for people + planet
Even when…it means more work!
- choosing to wash blue bins instead of using disposable boxes,
- sorting/saving boxes to return to farmers for reuse instead of recycling/landfill
- weekly coordination of deliveries/pick-ups with suppliers to reduce trips,
Even when…it means lower margins!
- paying extra for local organic produce (often more expensive than imported organic and almost always more expensive than local conventional)
- providing grab boxes near cost to reduce food waste and provide access to more people,
- supporting staff with above-minimum wages/food bonuses/wellness bonuses/benefits
And even when it means going against conventional business wisdom!
- NOT bagging all the usual items (lettuce, beans, brussel sprouts, fresh herbs, etc),
- NOT delivering on demand (following set routes for max efficiency ),
- NOT “scaling up” (personal sustainability is important too!) – belief that being one strong strand in a larger web of options is ok.
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