The Westend Food Co-op Story

• Vision
• Mission Statement
• Values
• Our Story
• Contact Us
  
• Our Sponsors

Vision

A thriving local community food culture that has a positive impact on the economy, environment and society and promotes a connection to a sustainable global food system.

Mission statement

The West End food Co-op will:

• Promote co-operative values and ownership;
• Act as a catalyst for local food security by coordinating community driven food initiatives; and
• Provide the local community with a full-service grocery store that focuses on selling products that are ecologically sustainable, local and healthy, such as fair trade and organic;

Values

The West End Food Co-op values:

• Ethical transparent governance that is non-hierarchal, locally controlled and culturally diverse;
• An organization that is agile, resourceful, pragmatic and promotes innovation;
• Food Initiatives that provide quality member service while ensuring a strong quality of work in a living wage model;
• Community leaders and hope to set an example of how multi-stakeholder co-operation can be prosperous for all;
• Quality assured groceries that focus on purchasing local, direct from producer, human, organic and fair trade;
• Direct and personal relationships between producers and consumers; and
• Co-operation, through organizational education and mentoring.

Our Story

The West End Food Co-operative (WEFC) is an incorporated multi-stakeholder co-operative – with consumer, employee, and producer/supplier members – committed to the development of community food culture in Toronto’s West End. WEFC acts as a catalyst for local food security by coordinating community driven food initiatives, such as the Sorauren Farmers’ Market and the future development of a small format (under 10,000 ft2) full service grocery store that features local, organic and fair trade products. The co-op will focus on creating local food security while providing employment with a liveable wage model.

In 2008, WEFC established a Farmers Market in Sorauren Park that features organic farmers and purveyors from the Greenbelt and the GTA. One of the unique features of the Sorauren Farmers Market is its collaboration with FarmStart, which seeks to act as a catalyzing opportunity for farmers who have recently established their businesses. The Market also seeks to raise public knowledge of food security issues, in part through a Local Food Awareness campaign using popular education and multimedia.

Ayal Dinner, Soraurauren Farmer's Market Coordinator: ayal(at)westendfood.coop

Melissa Benner, Community Engagement Coordinator: melissa(at)westendfood.coop

John Richmond, Director: john(at)westendfood.coop

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Our Sponsors