Capturing the Best of Summer
August 3, 2024
The Staff and Board of Directors of the Steep Hill Co-operative hope that this summer has been nothing short of amazing for you all! A time for rest, relaxation, and a refreshing of your soul and spirit, even with the endless entertainment opportunities that summer brings. Quiet visits with friends and family in the cool of the evening, a walk with your special someone to the ice cream place, a quiet paddle on the river or your favourite lake, a cold glass of lemonade, a book and a comfortable chaise lounge under a shady tree. If you crave something a little more boisterous, two big events are on tap. The Saskatoon Fringe Festival is happening in the heart of the Broadway District from August 1-10. Take in theatre productions, outdoor street performers, artisan vendors, food trucks, and games. Don’t forget to visit the Steep Hill booth in front of the store from the 3rd to the 5th! Why not attend one of the never-disappointing Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan productions? Hamlet until August 25 and Done/Undone and Juliet: A Revenge Comedy both run variously throughout the month.
For much of the province, this has been an impressive growing year. Gardens, crops, and orchards are bursting with bounty. We know that you have choice when you are planning a shopping trip. Why not do something good for your body and mind, which also benefits the environment and contributes to the local economy? You do all those things when you shop at Steep Hill Co-operative! Steep Hill may not have the exotic selection that you can get at a larger corporately-owned grocery store, but we do have a beautiful array of locally grown, seasonal produce. Picked fresh, at the peak of perfection, and delivered to our store within days, not weeks, “seasonal selection” means that we stock whatever is freshest and best at that moment in time. Enjoy fresh, green onions and tender garlic scapes for grilling and piling on to a burger, incorporating into a lively pesto or foil BBQ pouch of seasonal veggies, or whipping into some creamy mashed potatoes. Tender, sweet peas grown just a few miles from our front door! Crunch on a nutritious salad featuring microgreens, different types of lettuce, kale and spinach topped off with a dressing made with local fresh herbs, garlic. Who can resist new potatoes! Making the most of the best of the summer season means taking a chance on new flavours and products. Why not try something new? Capture the best of what’s out there!
Importance of Affordable, Accessible Food
Food is an important and deeply personal thing for us all. Food can reflect our culture and our values. It is also a necessity. Food is recognized as a human right, but what support do we have in place to ensure that everyone actually has access to safe, nutritious food? At a time when the cost of living is hitting everyone hard, it is more important than ever to offer food options that are affordable and accessible.
Across the province, Saskatchewan received a failing grade from Food Banks Canada’s Poverty Report Card. With a food insecurity rate of 28%, we’ve gone from a D in 2023 to an F in 2024. Grocery prices have increased exponentially, and food security is further impacted when you don’t have a grocery store near your home. The importance of meeting the food needs of a larger community is all the more clear when we see how food insecurity is affecting our city. Last year, the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre provided 93,583 food hampers to our neighbours who would otherwise go hungry; an increase of 6,371 from the year before.
The Broadway area has a number of great food experiences to offer, but Steep Hill Food Co-op has been the only option for a grocery store to serve the surrounding community for years. Offering a larger variety of products means more of our neighbours can afford to shop local and buy some or all of their food in their neighbourhood. Strengthening food security for everyone makes for a stronger, healthier, happier community. This care for community is a unique aspect of cooperatives, and one that we can all be proud to participate in.
You can learn more about the impacts of food security and poverty in our city and province by checking out the SFBLC annual reports for 2023, 2024 and the Food Banks Canada Poverty Report Card at the links below.
- Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre Annual Report 2023
- Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre Annual Report 2024
- Food Banks Canada Poverty Report Card 2024
Webinar on Alternatives to Corporate Supermarkets and Greedflation: Solidarity Grocery Stores and Food Co-ops
Food Secure Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a just, healthy, and sustainable food system that honours our relationship to the earth and each other. On July 9, FSC presented a webinar on the role of solidarity grocery stores and co-ops (like Steep Hill) as alternatives to the multinationals that now dominate the grocery scene. Panelists from four different food co-ops talked about what they do, and why it matters. You can watch their presentations below on YouTube to learn about how four co-ops are facing their challenges, building communities, and making a difference. Presenters are Jon Steinman of Kootenay Co-op (00:02:51 - 00:18:42), Beccah Fraisier of Carrefour Solidaire Co-op (00:18:42 - 00:44:42), Paul Decampo of Karma Co-op (00:44:42 - 01:03:49), and Susanna Redekop of Freedom Dreams Co-op (01:03:49 - 01:20:44).
Webinar on Alternatives to Corporate Supermarkets and Greedflation (English version)
Education, Training and Information
Steep Hill Food Co-op serves as a beacon of the cooperative value of education, training, and information, fostering a community-centric approach to food consumption and production. At its core, the co-op recognizes that an informed and empowered community is essential for sustainable and equitable food systems.
Education permeates every aspect of Steep Hill Food Co-op, beginning with our members. Through this newsletter, the website, and other events, the co-op equips our members with knowledge about various aspects of food, including sourcing, production methods, nutrition, and environmental impact. This educational approach extends beyond members to the wider community, as the co-op hosts events open to the public.
Training is another pillar of Steep Hill Food Co-op’s commitment to empowerment. The co-op works to support members and the community at large to have the skills necessary to make informed choices about their food consumption. By imparting practical skills, the co-op enables individuals to take an active role in shaping their food journey, from seed to table. The Partnerships, Education, and Engagement Committee is looking for volunteers who will lead these initiatives. If you are interested in being a part of this valuable work, email board@steephillfood.ca.
Information accessibility is fundamental to Steep Hill Food Co-op’s mission. By demystifying the complexities of food production and distribution, the co-op empowers individuals to make choices aligned with their values, whether it be supporting local farmers or opting for sustainably sourced goods.
In essence, Steep Hill Food Co-op exemplifies the cooperative principle of Education, Training, and Information by cultivating a community where knowledge is shared, skills are honed, and access to information is paramount. Through these efforts, the co-op not only fosters a deeper connection between individuals and their food but also contributes to the broader movement towards a more just and sustainable food system.
This article is one part of an 8 part series outlining how Steep Hill Food Co-op embodies the internationally recognized co-op principles.
Steep Hill Products Offer Value, and Values!
When Steep Hill members said “yes” to staying open and rebuilding our co-op, we set some big picture goals that reflect our economic, social and environmental values. We’re putting that vision into action, and we see the rewards daily with strong sales figures, an expanding membership, and a wider selection of products.
Organic, local, and fair trade products comprise 94 - 95% of Steep Hill’s product lines, and these combined with products produced by co-operative suppliers, make up 97 - 98% of the products we carry. The remaining 2 - 3% of product lines that are outside these categories respond to our May 2023 member survey. Many responses mentioned the cost of food and the need for wider and more reliable product selection, as well as lower-cost basics and ready-made food offerings.
Steep Hill’s most popular products continue to be organic, local and fair trade. Organic and local produce is extremely important – we sell a lot of it, and fast! Fast turnover of perishables is a very good thing. Since Steep Hill has such a small footprint (physically and ecologically), all our stock is on display, so slower-moving non-perishables, which include more of our non-organic lines, require more shelf space than rapid turn-over produce, eggs and dairy.
The additional non-organic, non-co-operative products means more people can do most of their shopping at Steep Hill. And being able to purchase a few conventional, less expensive products may allow them to spend more on their priority organic, fair trade and local choices. This product range also makes Steep Hill more accessible for people who would otherwise need to shop outside the neighbourhood, perhaps spending precious grocery money on transportation instead of food. This is one of the ways we put the co-operative principle of “care for community” into action.
One of our wholesale suppliers is Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (per the co-op principle of “co-operation among co-operatives”). Steep Hill orders have been affected by the cyber-attack on FCL’s computer systems since the beginning of July, but staff were able to find alternatives to fill the gap. Happily, FCL orders are returning.
As we head into August, our stocks of organic nut butters, spices, and canned beans have been replenished. Check out local products like meat from Carmen Corner and Original Family Farm, new potatoes and peas from Dixon Simpkins, and tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplant from Floating Gardens.
What’s on the shelves at Steep Hill is a community effort based on what people tell staff they’re looking for and what would encourage them to keep coming back. If there is a product or supplier you’re interested in, send a message to hello@steephillfood.ca or write the idea on a suggestion card in the store. As always, please share any concerns you might have with your Board members by emailing board@steephillfood.ca.
Help SARCAN and Steep Hill
You can now donate to Steep Hill Food Co-op through SARCAN Recycling! If you’re looking for a way to support the co-op and help us with some of our long-term planning and resource upgrades, you can do so next time you’re at your local SARCAN drop off location.
When using SARCAN’s handy Drop & Go option, use the phrase “Steep Hill Food” and your returns will be automatically deposited to the store’s account. If you don’t currently have a Drop & Go account, you can make one online at www.mydropandgo.ca or in person at SARCAN.
We’ll be using these funds to help with some needed updates and upgrades around the store, including a new freezer and store signage. Every little bit will help us get closer to that goal.
For more information please read SARCAN’s Frequently Asked Questions.
Steep Hill Needs Your Skill(s)!
We have a number of current and upcoming opportunities for volunteer work:
In-Store
We rely on our in-store volunteers to package, label, and shelve products, and generally assist with tasks that the staff may not have time to do regularly. To schedule an in-store shift, sign up on the schedule posted on the store bulletin board, or call 306-664-4455 or email hello@steephillfood.ca to request a shift.
In and Around the Store
We are in need of 3-4 people to share the role of picking up and disposing of garbage every week. Through recycling and composting efforts, the store minimizes its production of garbage, but we can’t avoid it altogether!
We also want to keep the store looking its best. If you enjoy yard work, please volunteer to weed in the back or trim the tree by the fence. It would also be wonderful to have someone wash the front window, and potentially do some deep cleaning of the coolers and walk-in cold room on long weekends. If you’re interested in these opportunities, please contact us at hello@steephillfood.ca and just mention the task you wish to do in the message.
Outreach
As you read in the article on education, training, and information, Steep Hill puts this co-operative principle into action via its Partnerships, Education, and Engagement Committee. Among other things, this committee develops and maintains community partnerships and offers educational opportunities, such as the popular Cooking With Lentils workshops held earlier in the year. If you’re interested in learning more about or serving on this committee, please contact board@steephillfood.ca.
Steep Hill’s bylaws allow for up to twelve directors. Elections will be held at the upcoming AGM, and vacancies could be filled even sooner. This means an opportunity to join the Board! To learn more about Board roles and responsibilities, contact board@steephillfood.ca.
Thank you to everyone who already volunteers! If you’re thinking about volunteering, we’d love to have you!
We Want to Hear From You!
For information about products and the store, email us at hello@steephillfood.ca or call 306-664-4455.
To contact the Board of Directors with ideas, feedback, concerns or questions, email board@steephillfood.ca or fill out a “How did we do today” card when you are in the store.
Thanks to Jasmin Carlton, Brianne Weigel, Amielle Christopherson, Adam Douglas, Cathy Holtslander, Maryann Scott, and Ann Smith for contributing to the Newsletter!
Your grocery store on Broadway!