The 2014 Ottawa Health and Wellness Expo is fast approaching and we are excited with this years vendor lineup. The variety of vendors that have already signed up ensures that this years event will once again provide quality products, services and information to our city. We want everyone to know more about who our vendors are and how their business fits in to the Expo’s passion for seeing Ottawa the healthiest city in Canada. Between now and the Expo, we will be highlighting some of these amazing vendors. Stay tuned to our blog as we feature our vendors in a special vendor spotlight blog.
Vendor Spotlight: Herbivor Farm
Tell us a little more about your business.
At Herbivor Farm, we are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and a healthy planet! We are an organic vegetable and herb CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) farm, located in Blackburn Hamlet. All our produce is grown with the greatest respect for natural systems, without the use of chemicals or synthetic fertilizers.
There are so many reasons to get involved in Community Shared Agriculture: amazingly fresh produce, supporting the local food economy, healthier and tastier produce for your family, or a desire to form a connection with how and where your food is being produced! Community Shared Agriculture is a relationship between farmers and the people who eat their produce. CSA members sign up before the season begins, to receive a share of the farm’s bounty: we offer a weekly box of vegetables & herbs (7-12 types in each box) every week of the growing season.
We grow over 40 different types of herbs and vegetables at the farm to ensure seasonal diversity. Aside from the staples, we also grow many heirloom varieties and other interesting variations chosen for their flavor, nutrition, colors and textures – you are likely to find some varieties that you wouldn’t find at the grocery store (like Italian zucchinis!). Join us for the adventure of our 2014 season!
What’s different about joining a farm and eating local?
Flavor, Nutrition, Diversity and Sustainability! In North America, food products, on average, travel between 2000-3000 km before reaching your kitchen. This ensures that produce is harvested when it’s under ripe, that it will lose a significant amount of nutrients before it reaches you, and that varieties will be selected for how well they travel and their shelf life, instead of for their flavor and nutritional content. There are also the environmental implications of all these kilometers travelled!
Local farmers can harvest when produce is ripe and at its peak flavor and nutrition. Local produce is also more varied, as farmers don’t have to worry about how well their produce will store in a warehouse, but can instead choose varieties based on their flavor, nutrition, or other interesting characteristics. Local food also supports a healthy environment and builds community.
At Herbivor Farm we pride ourselves on connecting people with their food system and encourage our members to come out and see how their food is being grown. We host open houses, volunteer days and pick your own veggie days to help facilitate this, and are always looking for new ways to involve the community.
What clients do you enjoy working with most?
We enjoy working with people who are invested in their own health and the health their communities. We truly enjoy working with people who are excited about eating locally and with the seasons, and who are interested in the health and environmental benefits that result from being a member of a farm. Anyone who is unsatisfied with the current industrial import-led food system, and who wants to play their part in creating a healthy, sustainable, and secure food system, would enjoy the benefits of being a member of a local farm. When it comes down to it, we truly love seeing people making healthy choices and connecting with their food. We are what we eat!
Looking forward to visiting your booth on Saturday!