The Gardener's Corner
Local produce delivered to your door
By Judith Rogers

Purchasing produce locally can benefit and strengthen a community's local economy. Consumers tend to feel more confident in buying when they know where and by whom food has been grown, plus the fact that it's going to be much fresher than produce transported a long distance.

To be a conscientious shopper with hopes of adhering to the 100-mile diet idea can seem overwhelming. A trip to the 400 Flea Market or locating local farms that sell produce to the public involves scheduling extra time to already busy days.

Field 2 Table is a brand new business about to swing into action in mid-May that will deliver fresh, local produce to your door. From talking to people, Shawn and Kerry found many others like themselves interested in having fresh, healthy produce from local sources readily available to them. They realized there is a definite market for this concept of food from the field delivered to a customer's door and after a great deal of research found some local certified organic farms and others that practice sustainable gardening willing to supply their business. One supplier in Waterloo is the furthest away, but still within the 100-mile radius to Innisfil.

Photo by Judith Rogers Shawn and Kerry of Field 2 Table.

Organic produce is fruit and vegetables that have not been genetically modified nor grown with pesticides, herbicides or sewage sludge, and the prices will be comparable to that of organic produce in grocery stores. Produce will be delivered weekly during the evening when the weather is cooler to avoid spoilage, in a bin which is then exchanged the following week for a new package of goods. The bins come in two sizes, a large is $40 and will feed a family of four, while the small is available for $30. These will be available during the growing season, which is about 20 weeks. The bins are reusable, which will cut out any packaging with a sanitization process between uses.

Subject to seasonal availability, residents could expect to receive asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumbers, onions, herbs, peppers, peas, potatoes, radishes, salad mixes and strawberries in the bin from spring to summer.

In the summer to fall season, residents can expect apples, blueberries, beans, carrots, chard, cucumbers, eggplant, leaf lettuce, leeks, onions, pak choi, peppers, potatoes, radicchio, raspberries, salad mixes, squash, tomatoes and zucchini will be available.

This passion to provide a service for fresh produce right to your door by Field 2 Table relies on them establishing a committed customer base this year so that the local farmers can allow for, and guarantee, the produce for next year. Shawn and Kerry have some great ideas for enhancing this business as it grows and it appears that the timing is right for their success.

If you visit their website at www.field2table.ca, there is a section for recipes. They hope customers will send in their favourites to be considered for inclusion on the site.

To sign up for this innovative service, or for more information, contact Shawn and Kerry at 294-2386 or email field2table@yahoo.ca.