Co-ops have never been big in central Canada, particularly in urban areas. Sure, there are credit unions and caisses populaires all over town, and sure, Mountain Equipment Co-op is a popular place for people looking to buy outdoor gear. But MEC excepted, retail co-ops aren’t among the big retail players in town, even though co-ops … Continued
Canada’s national co-op associations are asking co-ops and their members across the country to join the campaign to renew the Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI), a federal program that helps promote and develop new and emerging co-ops. CDI is a unique partnership program between the federal government, the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and the Conseil canadien … Continued
A California company will probably be the first user of the catalytic technology that was developed for a future ethanol plant at Nipawin. Fulcrum BioEnergy recently announced plans to build a commercial-scale plant that will use municipal solid waste to produce ethanol. Construction of the plant, to be located just outside Reno in Storey County, … Continued
VICTORIA – They are the flying squad of fruits and vegetables. They swoop into churches and offices and perch on suburban street corners – one-person produce stands with a mission to bring local, organic ingredients to consumers. They are pocket markets, the brainchild of Food Roots, a Victoria-based distributor’s co-op. Leading the charge is Food … Continued
You should have a better eating experience when you choose B.C. tree fruits at the market, now that there’s only one co-operative packing and shipping fruit. Growers elected the first board of directors for the new Okanagan Tree Fruit Co-operative Thursday in Penticton, after voting earlier this year in favour of amalgamation of the four … Continued
BEAUSEJOUR — A group of Beausejour-area grain producers is planning to build a biodiesel plant that uses canola oil, to take control of its fuel needs from big oil producers and help reduce farming’s carbon imprint on the environment. "We have no security against market fluctuations because we depend on large corporations for diesel fuel. … Continued
An edible sea snail is creating viable work in the once-thriving fishing community of Northwest Island, N.L. A new fish plant used to process whelk has created jobs and generated hope in the small town of Ramea. The plant, financed by the Ramea Community Co-operative, employs about 20 people full-time. They process the edible mollusk … Continued
Co-op stores are inviting Atlantic Canadians to take part in the Eat Atlantic Challenge on Thursday, Sept. 4, by eating only Atlantic products for the entire day. While the challenge is for Atlantic Canadians to eat Atlantic for a day, the larger goal is to help people understand the benefits of choosing food produced here … Continued
The Venables Valley Producers Co-op and the Seton Lake Indian Band were recipients of federal grants that were announced in Ashcroft last week. The Producers Co-op received $25,200 to conduct a feasibility study for a facility to compost pine-beetle killed trees, while the Seton Lake Indian Band received $99,000 to develop an economic plan and … Continued
The fair trade certified coffee market is not only fairer to farmers than the conventional coffee market, it is a uniquely remarkable way to stimulate economic growth in some of the poorest communities on the Earth. My perspective is in direct contrast to an opinion column by Gene Callahan that appeared on this page Aug. … Continued