The importance of buying Canadian now—and always
Olliffe is a family-owned and operated business that includes farmers, butchers and retailers who specialize in local food. We don’t typically discuss geopolitics on the blog, but in light of recent and ongoing events, we felt it was important to reiterate a message that’s always been critical to us: the importance of buying local.
For decades, we’ve encouraged our customers to buy food from their own backyard. This means that whenever possible, food should be purchased from producers in your own region, or at least one within driving distance. You might have to go a little farther out to find certain items but generally speaking, you can get everything you need within Ontario. Today, we’d like to review why this is important and how it benefits your family, your community and the future of your local food supply. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this issue in more detail, please contact us! We’d be glad to hear from you.
Buying local supports farmers and food producers in your community
Our first point is a bit of an obvious one, so we’ll keep it brief. Buying local food means directly supporting the farmers and food producers in your community. It strengthens your local economy while contributing to the success of your friends and neighbours—fellow Canadians who share your values and goals. Buying local keeps the economic cycle turning here in Ontario instead of putting money in the pockets of suppliers located over the border. And when you buy from local farmers and food producers like Olliffe, you also get the satisfaction of knowing your food was produced using holistic management—an approach that leads to regeneration and creates healthier local ecosystems, economies and communities.
It protects us from supply chain issues
Remember the empty shelves consumers were faced with during the pandemic? That was largely the result of supply chain issues. In short, food and supplies were not able to travel due to a variety of pandemic-related factors, which caused shortages (and panic) in many communities. When you buy local products, these supply chain issues cease to be a factor. Our products travel short distances and do not cross borders. If we ever experience another global health issue or delays due to geopolitical factors, our local food supply won’t be dramatically affected. By buying local and Canadian products, you’re helping these businesses thrive and enabling them to grow. When a community’s primary source of food is local, they’re essentially protected from outside issues. So: shop local in good times, and you’ll be able to shop local in tough times, too.
Local food is the best food
While you might find the odd imported item in one of our retail locations—for example, fresh lemons or heads of lettuce in the middle of winter—the vast majority of what we sell is produced right here in Ontario. Local comes first at Olliffe, and we’re really good at stocking our shelves with Canadian brands. This isn’t a new approach for us—it’s what we’ve always done!
If we can’t find it in Ontario, we look for other Canadian sources. Once those options have been exhausted, we consider imports. That’s why you’ll see Ontario beef, poultry and pork products as well as fresh bread from local bakeries, locally-made condiments and snacks, beverages from producers across Ontario, and fresh local produce when in season. Local food isn’t just something that supports the economy and helps consumers avoid supply chain issues—it’s delicious. The Canadian food producers we work with make exceptional products that we’re proud to carry in store and feed to our own families. Trust us—we wouldn’t carry it in store if we didn't want it in our own homes!
Thanks for your support
When times get tough, let’s be there for one another. We appreciate your business and are glad you took the time to read this post today. Please share it with your friends and family, or post it to your social media channels—the message around buying local is important and deserves to be heard. Thanks again, and take care!