By Tara MacIntosh
The door is always open at Huntsville’s Muskoka North Good Food Co-op. The owners and members who operate the Co-op know the benefits that fresh food and chemical-free products award to the mind and body. They take great pride in offering wholesome nourishment, and a friendly smile, to the local community year-round.
The Co-op’s mission is to provide regional, safe, sustainable and environmentally conscious foods, through the development of a community-owned grocery store and food education centre. The brilliant colours and extraordinary flavours consistent throughout the Co-op combine fresh local fruits, vegetables, groceries and meats. The workers and volunteers love to spend time with each guest to discover their needs and how they can help amplify their experience. For example, general manager Kelli Ebbs explains that the staff will take the time to instruct on using every part of a chicken. This ensures the customer uses all the meat (and bones as well), maximizing their investment and taking advantage of the delicious flavours and nutrition from every part of the bird.
They also educate shoppers on how to use every part of the vegetable. ”I always ask our members and customers if they use the broccoli stalk – and if they don’t, I explain how to peel it so they can eat the best part: the heart. The inside of the stalk is so crunchy and flavourful that people fight over it once they discover it!” These personal touches make the Co-op experience unique, often turning casual shoppers into lifelong members. It is a magical place where nature’s goodness and healing powers are celebrated.
The Co-op is structured as a not-for-profit, and is 100% owned by the community. Everyone is welcome to shop at the Co-op. The highest priority is to focus on customers’ special dietary needs, introduce new and whole foods, and meet their desire for clean beauty and household products.
The Co-op offers a wide range of home-grown products, supplied by over 125 owner-producers, and hundreds of Ontario-made products. The idea was to create a one-stop shop for the community, offering the best food selection and household products from Muskoka and Northern Ontario, expanding more widely into Ontario and the rest of Canada when necessary. Products like wild-caught frozen seafood are supplied from the Canadian coastlines, and the occasional international product is available – such as Italian olive oils, bananas, and avocados. All products must align with the Co-op’s procurement policy, which members and owners developed together. All shoppers can rest easy that the food is safe, healthy, and totally delicious.
The farmers who become suppliers and friends generally seek out the Co-op to participate in this fantastic community of people dedicated to providing the best the earth has to offer. Several farmers and members have chosen to move to this region to supply and shop at this incredible little gem of a store. The Co-op has become a unique benefit to joining this growing community. Each Co-op member and casual shopper who spends money at the Co-op supports a small local family farm in the community. The food and goods may cost a little more than a large grocery chain; however, keeping those dollars local gives the community fresh, delicious foods to eat and allows the local family farms to continue to make a living doing what they love.
The saying goes that there is no accounting for taste – except when it comes to the offerings at the Co-op. Seasonal vegetables are succulent with bold, beautiful colours and deep mouth-watering flavours. When corn is in season, there is an abundance of the sought-after product available, as well as berries, peppers, onions, broccoli, lettuce, and more. The recipe options are endless, and the palate is truly unmatched.
The Co-op also offers cooking classes and demonstrations to help every visitor get the most out of their experience. The warm, inviting atmosphere is a perfect match for divine ingredients that turn into the most heartwarming meals. No question or inquiry is too big or too small. Unlike traditional grocery stores, the staff and volunteers will spend as much time as needed to show you around the store, share the Co-op story and the benefits of membership, the background stories of the products, and provide cooking tips. The cost of the foods may be a little higher than some grocers, but the lasting products and the succulent flavours will far exceed the cost difference. For example, a bag of local mixed greens can last up to two weeks in your refrigerator; because of this, we waste less and eat more good food.
If you need to escape your daily life for an afternoon, join the friendly community at the Co-op for a piping hot coffee, espresso, or the best-selling oat milk lattes at the Uproot Café. In the winter months, warm up at the popular Café with nourishing and healing soups, a fresh salad, or a grilled sandwich packed with seasonal goodness. Try one of the grain or noodle bowls, filled with fresh, local, organic ingredients, and the super-popular Sesame-Tamari dressing. A friendly face will always be there to welcome you and guide you through the food selection. In the summer months, enjoy the Co-op’s quiet community food garden patio secluded on a cul-de-sac. This tranquil space keeps the community coming back again and again to relish the seasonal deliciousness, along with the colours and scents of remarkable displays.
To say the members and owners are passionate about what they do is just the beginning of the story. They want to share their solid values and fair practices, creating an inclusive space inside and outside the Co-op. Extending the reach into the community, there are initiatives like PlantBox, which teaches easy and delicious plant-based meal creation through a plant-based meal kit, recipe card, and instructional video or infographic. Other community initiatives include Nourishing Seniors, which offers seniors easy-to-heat, nutrient-dense, and deliciously prepared meals seven days a week.
With the recent easing of pandemic restrictions, the Co-op is preparing to resume their in-store educational series as soon as possible, sharing basic cooking skills and meal preparation. The Co-op’s catering options share the local harvest for special events like weddings, birthdays, retirement celebrations, or large family get-togethers.
Spreading the healing power of local, unsprayed fruits and vegetables has kept the Co-op going since its inception in 2014. The Co-op’s evolution and offerings reflect the community’s desire to access incredible locally grown foods to nourish minds and bodies, while feeding a need for community connection and belonging. There is an open invitation to experience the beauty and magic that is the Muskoka North Good Food Co-op. Your taste buds will thank you.
muskokanorthfood.com
