Shopping Locally for Produce in Canada: Why It Matters and How to Start

When you walk through a farmers’ market or pick up a box of produce from a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, you are doing more than just buying fruits and vegetables – you are helping to build a stronger, more sustainable food system.

Shopping locally for produce in Canada has become more than a trend; it is a way to support farmers, foster community resilience, and make mindful choices about the food we eat. It also comes with challenges that make it important to be informed and intentional.

How Buying Local Supports Farmers

In an era where “Buy Canadian” campaigns are increasingly used by large corporations, it is easy to forget that supporting farmers can go beyond the supermarket. Anna Brookes, Site Services Coordinator at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm, highlights an important reality:

“Buying locally is especially big right now, of course with the pressure of the trade wars. But it has been interesting seeing how much ‘Buy Canadian’ has become an advertising campaign for the biggest Canadian food corporations,” explains Anna. “Buying from local farms means you are more likely to be supporting farmers for the full value of their labour, rather than supporting CEOs.”

Participating in programs like a CSA subscription directly helps small farms survive. Customers pay upfront for a share of the harvest, providing farms with critical early-season funding.

“Our farm, like a lot of small-scale farms, has a CSA program, which allows customers to buy a share – like a subscription box – of produce up front,” says Brookes. “It helps local farms thrive and makes getting food a social, community experience.”

Challenges of Shopping Local

While buying local has its benefits, it is not without its hurdles. Convenience, cost and accessibility remain significant barriers.

“Buying local can be inconvenient! Our food system is not set up so that local food is the most accessible food,” explains Brookes. “Chances are you live closer to a chain grocery store than to a local farm.”

Farmers’ markets help bridge this gap but do not always solve every issue. Price is another concern, especially as grocery prices continue to climb. Interestingly, UBC Farm has found that their organic produce often competes favourably with conventional prices at big stores.

Another major factor is seasonality – something we sometimes take for granted when faced with year-round supermarket aisles full of strawberries and avocados.

“We have quite a short growing season here for produce,” Brookes notes. “It can be really hard needing a specific cultural food that does not grow or get made in this region.”

Making Informed Purchasing Decisions

Navigating the local food landscape can feel overwhelming, but a little curiosity goes a long way. Brookes recommends going straight to the source:

“You can head straight to a farmers’ market or CSA program and ask questions directly about the growing practices and labour practices involved in making your food.”

Asking questions empowers consumers to alight their purchases with their values – whether that is organic growing practices, fair labour standards, or minimal environmental impact. It is worth remembering that influence does not stop at the checkout line.

“Our power to shape food systems is not just limited to our role as consumers,” Brookes emphasizes. “We can also do a lot to move toward a sustainable future as students, researches, educators, workers, political actors, and community members.”

“We can also do a lot to move toward a sustainable future as students, researches, educators, workers, political actors, and community members.”

– Anna Brookes

The UBC Farm itself exists thanks to community members who organized to protect and support local agriculture with the “Save the Farm” campaign. On October 28, 2008, community members presented then-UBC President Stephen Toope with more than 16,000 signatures in support of retaining the UBC Farm in its existing size and location.

What’s in Season at the UBC Farm?

Understanding what is in season helps set realistic expectations and encourages a closer connection to the rhythms of local agriculture. At the UBC Farm, the growing season kicks off in May and June, bringing a vibrant mix of fresh produce. This includes greens like lettuce, chard, spinach, arugula and kale, and radishes, carrots, beets, beans, and herbs.

Pop-markets begin in May, with the full farmers’ markets season starting in early June, offering an ideal opportunity to stock up on local and seasonal food.

Learn more about what the UBC Farm has to offer: https://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/food/

More Research in Food and Resource Economics