If you don’t mind ugly produce and are looking for more options to source your food from Canadian farmers, a Simcoe County food box service might be able to help.
Last week, Barrie-based Eat Impact launched a new All-Canadian Produce Box in response to the tariff war between the U.S. and Canada that is seeing many look for more local options for their food.
“Lately, we’ve noticed a significant increase in interest in Canadian-grown produce, especially over the past few weeks,” said Eat Impact founder Anna Stegink in an interview.
“There’s so much uncertainty right now. I think it’s emphasized for a lot of people the importance of supporting Canadian-grown produce and Canadian farmers,” she said.
The company offers small, medium, and large produce boxes, as well as organic and all-fruit or all-vegetable boxes that are customizable and are delivered across Simcoe County, including Collingwood and Wasaga Beach.
On a mission to reduce food waste while saving people money, the company was founded in 2022 serving just the Greater Toronto Area at that time, but expanded to serve Simcoe County in May 2023. The company also delivers in the GTA and York Region.
The company works with local farmers and distributors to source the produce that is at risk of going to waste. Their suppliers are mostly farmers in Ontario, with some items sourced from Quebec or Manitoba, with some using greenhouses and hydroponics to make sure a variety of food is in each box despite Canada’s sometimes harsh winters.
“It’s mostly about building a more sustainable food system,” said Stegink. “There is still an abundance of Canadian produce.”
Stegink said Eat Impact themselves haven’t been impacted by the tariffs as they source surplus and imperfect items.
“We’re just buying what’s available that would have gone to waste. What we stand for is eating what’s available...and building our boxes based on that,” she said.
“We’re trying to make eating healthy affordable. We want our food system to thrive and stay strong,” said Stegink.
The new All-Canadian Produce Box delivers a selection of 11 to 13 varieties of fresh, Canadian-grown produce each week for $31.95. For a limited time, new sign-ups can use coupon code Canada25 to get 25 per cent off their first box.
For more information on Eat Impact, click here.