Supporting NS Food Growers Through Nourish Your Roots
As global food costs increase due to high inflation, we are all feeling the effects at grocery stores and restaurants across the country. Our local food growers are feeling it too—from gas to seeds to fertilizer, the cost of growing food in Nova Scotia is also on the rise.
Recognizing the potential impact of inflation on our farm-to-school fundraiser, Nourish Your Roots, our team reached out to our trusted farm partners to hear their perspective. When asked about the impact of inflation, one partner expressed that they will be seeing a “15 to 20 percent increase of input costs and labour costs.” Another agreed, noting, “that means we have to increase prices a full 15% [this year] because we were at a break-even point for the last two years as it was.”
We have also been reflecting on the core program values that were put in place when we started the program back in 2015. One of these values is that Nourish your Roots supports our local food system by ensuring farmers are paid fairly for their produce. After listening to farmers, Nourish made the decision to honour the "fair price" value and increase the box price from $35 to $38 this year, with all additional funds going towards the farmer's share. At this price, we can continue to support the local economy, champion school healthy eating programs, and ensure our farm partners are respected.
“Nourish Your Roots proceeds go toward healthy eating in schools. Good nutrition has been proven the most economically effective way to improve the education level of a country...[also] I think people will generally be pleasantly surprised at the quality of local produce.”
“[Nourish Your Roots is] a way for us to help promote local and at the same time increase our sales. It has also proven a useful way to channel surplus product...[decreasing our] overall environmental footprint.”