Latest news with #supportlocal
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Maritimers look to farmers markets for groceries amid trade war, high prices
Between the U.S. trade war and high prices on the shelves at grocery stores, Maritimers are doing whatever then can to save money on food and support local. One way they are doing so is by shopping at local farmers the weather hasn't been picture perfect so far this spring, the Sussex Farmers Market in Sussex, N.B., is noticing an uptick in its first couple of weeks. 'People like homemade, they like organic, and we have that here,' says Sussex Market manager Patty Manning. 'For the most part people will buy here before they'll go elsewhere, and then when tourist season comes, we get the tourists from all over and they seem to like the market.' An overwhelming majority of communities around the Maritimes offer weekly farmers markets to allow local farmers and producers to sell product directly to customers. 'It's good food, it's all naturally fed, and it's just the best food you can get,' says market goer Brian Derrah. 'The people are awesome, the farmers are awesome, it's just a good place to go.' Between looking to support local products as a trade war persists with the U.S. due to tariffs and grocery prices seeming higher then ever, it's not always easy to know where to shop. Sylvia Melvin with Sylvia's Country Kitchen had a wide assortment of fresh baked breads and bagels on sale Friday. She said customers tell her that her prices are much better than what you see at the store. 'If a customer can get a better price and a better-quality product, the bread you get in the store lasts almost two weeks,' Melvin says. 'They're putting a lot of preservatives in their bread, mine doesn't have that.' While the prices normally tend to be cheaper at these types of markets, both vendors and shoppers admit it may cost an extra dollar or two for a fresh baked loaf of bread. But in this instance, no one is complaining about paying a little extra. 'Honestly, I think the value is in the quality of it,' says Johanna Buck. 'You know it's homemade and you're supporting someone directly.' It's Jennifer Plante's first year at the Sussex market as a vendor with Plante Farm. She believes it is important for residents to have access to locally grown foods produced by local farms and small businesses. 'Especially in a small town, you know that your neighbor is making it, and it's produced locally with local ingredients,' says Plante. 'A lot of effort and work goes into it, and I think people appreciate that.' Once fresh produce becomes available later this summer, officials expect even more residents to make the market the first stop on their weekly grocery run. The Sussex Farmers Market is open every Friday along Main Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Major USDA cuts cripple food banks, school food programs in North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina — At Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina, the food is as fresh as can be because most of it comes from local growers. "We receive local shredded carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, because we feel that we need to support people in our own communities," Jim Keaten, who runs the nutrition program for Durham Public Schools, told CBS News. Keaten said the school district's produce comes from local growers under a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that was cut by the Trump administration. "Immediately, my thoughts were, what are we going to do?" Keaten said of his first response when he learned the program funding had been cut. "Because these are the funds we use to provide local foods to kids." In March, the White House cut two federal programs that provide just over $1 billion in annual funding to school districts and food banks nationwide. It slashed $660 million in funding to the Local Food for Schools program, and another $420 million to the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, which goes to food banks and other local groups. The impact is being felt in every state, including North Carolina, where CBS News followed the trail of food and funds to assess the impact of the cuts. One of the growers providing food to schools is Pine Knot Farms in Hurdle Mills, about one hour's drive from Riverside High School. Linda Leach-Hughes, co-owner of the farm, said last year it sold $150,000 in produce to local schools. She calls the sudden loss of revenue "devastating." "If we do not have this extra income coming in to help local folks in the community, then we will have to lay folks off, we can no longer employ folks," Leach-Hughes told CBS News. Pine Knot Farms also provides produce to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Amy Beros, the food bank's president and CEO, said its share of lost aid from the cuts is now at about $2 million. "I don't understand," Beros said. "We're facing one of the worst hunger crises in decades, and now we're going to increase the need even more. The access to this food makes them not have to choose between the life-saving medicine they need and food for that month." The concern over who gets fed is especially felt by those who grow it. "How are you going to make America great again if you're taking food out of the mouths of babies, senior citizens, nursing homes, rehab centers, hospitals, all of these agencies that are dependent on federal dollars?" Leah-Hughes asked. "How are you going to make America great again?" contributed to this report.
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
App made in Sudbury, Ont., promotes deals at chamber of commerce businesses across Canada
An app designed in Sudbury, Ont., that connects people with businesses that are part of the local chamber of commerce is now available in 56 cities across Canada. Karen Hastie came up with the idea for the Chamber Perks app when she heard about the struggles some chambers of commerce were facing trying to show value for their members. Anyone can download the free Chamber Perks app, which provides discounts with businesses that are members of their local chamber of commerce. "The only businesses that can be featured on the app have to belong to local chambers of commerce across Canada and that consists of over 200,000 businesses," Hastie said. By working directly with chambers, Hastie said it provides a built-in audience for her app. "Creating an app, anyone can do that," she said. "Getting people to download it, that's a lot tougher of an ask. So the cool thing about us is having a pre-made network of chamber businesses. It makes it easier for those businesses that belong to a chamber to get their employees, their families and friends to download it." Hastie said the app is a way to encourage people to support local businesses and buy Canadian goods and services, either in their own city or if they are visiting from out of town. She said it's also a way for businesses to get other messages to the public. "So they might be advertising 'We're hiring, we're relocating, we just won an award, we've got a sale on' So it really becomes a local communication tool for those businesses," Hastie said. To participate, chambers of commerce pay her a subscription fee, but she said it benefits them since it brings in more customers to member businesses. Hastie said the app is expanding into more cities, including a move to connect with more chambers of commerce in Quebec. This is a second career for her, after spending the past 30 years running a fitness equipment store in Sudbury. "I love helping small businesses, I mean that's been my passion. This to me was a natural fit," Hastie said.
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Nova Scotia restaurants are still turning to crowdfunding. But is it always the best move?
When Katie Tower and the all-female ownership team behind Fawn Restaurant decided to reach out to the public for financial support to stay afloat, it wasn't something they considered lightly. The restaurant, which opened in the fall of 2022 on South Park Street in Halifax, N.S., was a big leap in size and scope from Field Guide, a small food and cocktail bar in the city's north end that was an already existing venture for some of the group. Fawn served modern American-style cuisine with French and Italian influences, and aimed to be a mix between casual and fine dining. But by the end of 2024, the business was struggling. Tower said they were still trying to pay off debt accumulated during the restaurant's buildout, which ended up costing double the amount they expected. As a last-ditch effort, the owners created a crowdfunding campaign to encourage people to purchase gift cards to help with cash-flow issues. They called it the Fawn'tum Leap. "When we did end up launching it just before Christmas, we basically didn't really have any other [option]," said Tower. "It just felt like … well, we have to turn over every possible stone." Privately, the initiative was a success, at least in the short term. Tower said Fawn raised about $65,000 from patrons who answered the call to buy gift cards. But publicly, the owners received substantial pushback on social media, with some alleging they were asking for a handout and others criticizing the optics of a fine-dining business pleading for financial support in an uncertain economic climate. Even with the support, the business didn't hang on for long. It closed for good in April. Once again, there was another round of online chatter, with some accusing the owners of misusing the funds. Lost in the criticism, however, was the fact that the gift cards remain valid at Field Guide going forward. "It was one of my first experiences with that type of tall poppy thing, where the higher your head sticks out of the bushes, the more likely it is that people are going to notice and have something to say," said Tower. The response illustrates some of the perils of crowdfunding. It can help a business get off the ground, or stay afloat, but it can also open up individuals to online attacks and public scrutiny. Larry's opening this week In the past decade or so, a number of Nova Scotia businesses have tried crowdfunding, including The Narrows, The Black Sheep and Glitter Bean Cafe in Halifax, The Canteen in Dartmouth, and Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet in Western Shore. This week, Larry's Sandwiches & Sides is celebrating its first week in business on Portland Street in Dartmouth. After a successful series of pop-ups in 2024, the owners, including head chef Jason McKenzie, launched a Kickstarter campaign last November to help fund the opening of a permanent space. Backers were encouraged to pledge a certain amount of money, in exchange for rewards, which ranged from having their name listed on a support wall, to dinner for two at sister restaurant Dear Friend, or 10 sandwiches for $120. The campaign was a success, raising $27,628 off 147 backers to exceed its $25,000 goal. For McKenzie, who has long dreamed of owning his own restaurant, turning to crowdfunding was a way to engage his community and gauge support before turning to another bank loan. "I would rather we owe sandwiches to our friends and neighbours than interest to a bank," he said. Crowdfunding is a risk for any business, but McKenzie said he wasn't worried about a negative response. "I understand that feeling people get about crowdfunding and Kickstarters where they feel like they're just giving money to a business for nothing and that's something I specifically really thought about when we were making the goals, so that it was a reward … a thank you for supporting us early." Still not the norm for Nova Scotia restaurants According to Natasha Chestnut, the executive director of the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, a group that advocates for those in the industry, crowdfunding is still not especially common in the province. Chestnut said it's important for small businesses to weigh the pros and cons before making a choice to crowdfund. She said it can be an effective way to avoid bank loans, or to drum up marketing for your business, but there is a potential downside to being held accountable by the public instead of a creditor. "Your reputation is on the line," she said. "Especially if your expected goals are not met and it's not successful." For her part, Tower says she understands why Larry's and other restaurants have made use of Kickstarter to drum up support for their ventures. But she does feel Fawn faced greater scrutiny than many of these ventures, something she thinks has been heightened by the fact that it was owned by three women. "It seems to me they just didn't like that we were bold enough and brave enough to ask for help, and that's a reflection of the person, not of the rightness or wrongness of what we were doing."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canadian Icon Doug Gilmour Joins MooseMarket.ca as Official Spokesperson
"A new platform for Canadian-made products, backed by national pride and one of hockey's greatest names." BURLINGTON, Ontario, May 26, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a time when global trade tensions are challenging Canadian businesses and consumers, a new marketplace is answering the call for national pride and economic independence. is proud to announce Canadian hockey legend Doug Gilmour as the official spokesperson for its mission-driven platform — dedicated exclusively to showcasing and selling Canadian-made products coast to coast. As trade uncertainty with the U.S. grows and Canadian consumers seek easy ways to support local businesses, is designed to offer a direct connection between Canadian manufacturers and Canadian shoppers. Every product listed on the platform meets strict criteria for being either made in Canada, prepared in Canada, or a product of Canada — ensuring dollars stay in the country and local businesses thrive. "MooseMarket was created for a purpose much bigger than commerce — it's about strengthening Canadian independence, especially during uncertain times," says Steve Beazley, President of "We're proud to welcome Doug Gilmour — a true Canadian icon — as the face of this movement, because no one understands commitment to this country better than Doug." Known for his storied NHL career, his leadership as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his 2011 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Doug Gilmour brings more than celebrity status — he brings a legacy of Canadian grit and heart. "Choosing Canadian products isn't just smart, it's patriotic," said Gilmour. "This is about Canadians standing up for Canadians, and I'm proud to be part of Moose Market." Why Matters: ✅ 100% Canadian-Made Focus – Every product listed on the site is verified to be made in Canada. ✅ Strengthening the Canadian Economy – Keeps dollars circulating within Canada, reducing reliance on foreign imports. ✅ Supporting Local Entrepreneurs & Manufacturers – Helps small and large businesses gain national exposure. ✅ Consumers Can Buy with Confidence – Canadians looking to shop local now have a trusted source. Canadians Supporting Canadians—for Canada The platform offers a wide range of products, from household essentials to artisan goods, showcasing the best that Canadian businesses and manufacturers have to offer. With a focus on convenience, quality, and national pride, is poised to become the go-to destination for consumers who want to buy Canadian-first. Both Doug Gilmour and President Steve Beazley are available for interviews to discuss the importance of building strong Canadian supply chains, how supports local businesses, and why Canadian-made matters now more than ever. Moose Market is proud to announce our live date for summer, 2025. View source version on Contacts For interview requests and media inquiries, please contact:Steve BeazleyPresidentMoose Market Inc.(905) 379-3816steve@ Vendor Marketing Deck Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
