While I certainly do not mind going grocery shopping, there is something about perusing the grocery stores and farmers’ market aisles that is truly appealing; the convenience of having fresh, locally-sourced produce delivered to (or near) your door is certainly a plus. Not only are food basket deliveries beneficial to the environment by encouraging local farmers and therefore diminishing the distance our food has to travel before reaching our tables, but they are also a great way to get your daily intake of fruits and veggies while discovering new foods.
If the concept of organic food basket deliveries isn’t new, the one offered by Montreal-based Lufa Farms is nothing short of revolutionary. The founder of Lufa Farms, Mohamed Hage, has found a way of offering fresh and locally-sourced produce to Montrealers year-round. How? By building greenhouses on the roofs of Montreal buildings. Located in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville neighbourhood of Montreal, the first of two greenhouses founded by the company has been producing fresh fruits and vegetables, using no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
What’s also great about Lufa Farms is the fact that their baskets are entirely customizable. Starting at $30, you can change or add any item of your choosing. Moreover, the farm offers a virtual marketplace in which you can find a variety of local delicacies (St-Viateur bagels, baked goods from artisanal bakery Le Fromentier and Grandma Emily gourmet granolas, to name a few) to add to your basket.
Lufa Farms is not the only locally-sourced food basket delivery service; here are some other farms that offer basket pick-up points on the Island of Montreal:
Equiterre:
As a non-profit and non-governmental organization, Equiterre is dedicated to encouraging “socially and environmentally choices”. Encouraging community-supported agriculture (CSA), equterre.org offers an interactive map that enables users to find an affiliated family farmer that delivers baskets at a time and location that suits you.
Jardin des Anges:
Located outside of Montreal, Jardin des Anges offers different types of baskets to suit their clients’ needs. From the solo (for one person) to the raw diet baskets, the variety of fruits and vegetables sold are always certified organic. As with Lufa Farm, Jardin de Anges offers an assortment of locally-sourced grocery items.
References:
http://www.jardindesanges.com/summary.php?go=products
Images Retrieved From: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Lufa_Farms_Montreal_rooftop_greenhouse.jpg and http://www.ourhometown.ca/images/photos/FarmersMarket1_XL.jpg