Many Canadians these days want to spend less on their groceries. In some cities, non-profits and food co-ops are providing people with different choices as they try to change their shopping habits and reduce their expenses. Here’s a look at what some organizations are doing:
In Montreal, a weekly market lets customers pay what they can afford
The weekly fruit and vegetable market that sets up on Mondays in Montreal’s Pointe-St-Charles neighbourhood looks like any other small grocery store. Customers talk with volunteers as they fill their baskets with cauliflower, potatoes and leafy greens.
It’s at the checkout where things are different. Here, pricing works on a three-tier sliding scale.
The pay-what-you-can market is an initiative of Share the Warmth, which also operates a food bank and provides other community services in the city’s southwest.
Kimber Fellows, the organization’s director of philanthropic development and communications, says the market was developed to “fill a gap” identified after surveys of food bank users showed many wanted more fresh produce in their diets but had only a few dollars a week to spend on such items.
She says the rising cost of living has forced many to reduce their spending on fresh, healthy food because it’s not a fixed cost like rent or electricity.
“It’s one of the only areas where they can try to save. So we see a lot of families that are forced to shop at the dollar store or buy things that are, maybe, rich in carbs but low in nutrients,” she says.
“That’s why it’s really important for organizations like us to be able to increase access to healthy food.”
It’s not just low-income clients who visit the market.
Shoppers have three options: pay the lowest price, which is the cost the organization pays the food supplier; pay a slightly higher “share the warmth” price; or, for those who can afford to support the program, choose a “pay it forward” price.
In the summer, the market operates outdoors, with the look of a farmers market. In the winter, it takes place in an airy, light-filled space on the second floor of a church. Sometimes there are recipe demonstrations, and volunteers are on hand to help direct people to food banks or some of the organization’s other services.
Steven Wells fills his basket with green peppers, onions, cucumbers and carrots. The longtime client says the atmosphere and quality of the food is just like
Montreal’s better-known, fancier Atwater and Jean-Talon markets.
“The only thing is, it’s lower in price – prices we can afford.”
— By Morgan Lowrie in Montreal
A Toronto co-op helps shoppers avoid grocery store giants
Karma Co-op, tucked away on Karma Lane in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, is a haven for shoppers looking to spend their grocery dollars in their community instead of in the handful of grocery stores that sell the majority of food in Canada.
The co-op was started, in part, out of distrust of large grocery chains, says general manager Zachary Weingarten.
“Even back in 1972, folks were frustrated with the largest supermarkets and the consolidation they were seeing in the industry, putting the smaller stores out of business,” he says.
“After fifty-two years, we are still dealing with many of the same problems.”
According to co-op president Sharon Mandair, many co-ops established during that era are no longer in operation. However, Karma has managed to continue in some capacity because it purchased the building it is located in, which used to be a bakery.
The co-op concentrates on local, organic, and ethically obtained products, a lot of which are offered in large quantities so customers can reuse containers and purchase only what they require.
The greater the number of members, the better prices Karma can provide.
Mandair mentions that Karma has approximately 550 active members, along with 100 long-standing members who visit less frequently. Additionally, there are about 100 guest shoppers each month.
Members pay less than guest shoppers and receive an additional discount if they take on shifts at the co-op. Members who work two hours per month get a five percent discount the following month.
According to Weingarten, certain food items, such as organic produce, are competitively priced compared to supermarkets due to the co-op's connections with farmers and producers.
He explains that patrons typically join the co-op because it aligns with their principles. Karma has guidelines to ensure products meet specific standards, including ethical, sustainable, and nutritional considerations. As a co-op, it is not required to hand over profits to shareholders.
Because the co-op prioritizes local suppliers, “all the money goes back into the local economy.”
Weingarten asserts that with supermarkets making substantial profits while lineups at food banks lengthen, there is a flaw in the food system.
— By Rosa Saba in Toronto
In Vancouver, a non-profit offers a lottery for rescued food
In 2021, the Food Stash Foundation opened its Rescued Food Market in Vancouver with a pay-what-you-feel system. However, executive director Carla Pellegrini states that due to overwhelming demand, the store had to change to a customer lottery.
Pellegrini explains from the foundation's warehouse, where the weekly market is held, that there are too many people to serve and not enough food or staff to serve them as much as they would like.
Every three months, the organization randomly selects 160 individuals from submitted applications. Those chosen pay a weekly membership fee of $2 and are assigned a specific time to collect their food each Thursday.
The foundation also offers a home delivery program for individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions.
The non-profit aims to remove any negative associations related to being unable to afford the increasing food costs and offers an alternative for those who prefer not to use services like food banks, according to Pellegrini.
Pellegrini points out that due to the affordability crisis and escalating food prices, there is significant demand for their work and similar efforts in the field.
“We’re all looking for creative ways to save a little bit of money on our groceries. There’s lots of different ways that we can do that to … waste less food and therefore waste less money.”
The market sources its food from grocery stores in the city that would otherwise discard it, rescuing about 54,000 kilograms of food monthly.
Pellegrini assures that the food is still safe to consume despite being discarded by stores for various reasons.
She comments on a box of frozen tortellini, questioning its quality due to the best-before date of February 2024.
However, since it's frozen and pasta, it could be consumed over the next year without any issues.
The foundation often gets fresh produce that stores reject for being unattractive or needing parts removed due to premature spoilage.
Pellegrini mentions that it requires extra care that grocery stores don't provide.
The main reason for our existence is the environmental impact, but ensuring dignified food access is also crucial.
— By Brieanna Charlebois in Vancouver
A mobile food market in St. John’s provides a diverse range of products at affordable prices.
On a dull day in St. John’s, N.L., the selection of produce at the Academy Canada campus surpasses that of most grocery stores in the city.
Additionally, it's more cost-effective, which is the primary objective.
Sarah Crocker from the non-profit Food First Newfoundland and Labrador offers various produce at affordable prices through the Food on the Move market.
For just $2 each, or three for $5, customers can purchase smaller quantities of fresh produce at the pop-up market.
This provides individuals living alone with a method to reduce waste and offers those with limited income a cheaper option than major grocery stores, while also allowing them to try new items.
Crocker believes it's a misconception that people with low incomes should only consume basic foods, noting the demand for variety and new foods.
Through Food First NL, Crocker purchases produce from wholesalers like Costco and, when possible, from fellow farmers.
A dozen local eggs at the market cost $5.
Each week, Crocker's market travels across the city, from the Memorial University student center to neighborhoods with many public housing units.
After selling at Academy Canada, she moves to a community center on the other side of the city following a seniors’ bingo game.
She explains that suggesting bulk shopping or seeking sales is impractical for households without their own transportation, especially if discount grocery stores are located far from the city center.
— By Sarah Smellie in St. John’s
In some cities, non-profit organizations and food co-ops are providing alternative options to help people change their shopping habits and reduce their expenses.
