Interview with Local Business Owners - Angela

As you may or may not know, I used to work at Vegan Bakery here in Toronto. The Owners are Kevin and Ashley, who both also happen to be good friends of mine. Here is an interview I did with them about a food co-op they belong to.

Angela:

So I know you guys buy all of your ingredients through a food co-op. Could you tell me more about the co-op, and why you chose to be a part of a co-op.

(K)evin & (A)shley:

Well, it’s called ONFC, or Ontario Natural Food Co-op, everything they sell is organic and they really push local produce.

A:

So is it a group of farmers or what?

K&A:

Well, yes and no. There are a lot of local farmers who sell through ONFC, but also, lost of small companies sell through ONFC as well.

A:

Could anybody order food through them? Like if I wanted to only buy my food through ONFC, could I?

K&A:

We pay a fee to belong to the coop, everybody does, buys and sellers. It helps employ the people who work there and for advertising.
A:

Cool, so why did you guys chose to use ONFC and not just buy your products from a Health food store or something?

K&A: 

Sometimes we do, but mostly because we like to support local farmers. It’s important that your stuff be organic but it’s also important that in using organic produce we aren’t harming the environment. Which is why it’s amazing to use local products. It also creates an amazing sense of community.

A: I totally get that. It’s like you work really hard to make great products so you can totally respect somebody who does the same. Kind of like using anything else cheapens your product.

K&A:

Exactly! Plus we want the kind of customers who care about what we care about. There’s a mutual respect. When you get to know your customers, you want nothing but the best for them.

(Kevin Adds): 

At the end of the day we still have bills to pay, and we’d never pretend that money doesn’t matter, but making money dishonestly is not how we want to do things.

(Ashley Adds) :

We’re a Mom and Pop type of joint and so is ONFC.

A:

So what in this (referring to cupcake I had already eaten) is local?

K&A:

Well everything is organic, the soy butter is Canadian, the floors are Bob’s Red Mill. The Strawberries are local. Actually, the strawberries we bought at a Farmer’s market, the one in Trinity [Bellwood’s] so they’re farmer direct.

A:

I go there all the time!! I love it.  Anyway, thanks for your time guys, and thanks for the cupcakes!!