Yuba Local Market delivers local food to downtown Calgary

A Calgaryfood vendor is hoping to increase the availability oflocally grown foods in the downtown core by offering grocery delivery.

Kirsten Faverin, one of the founders of Yuba Local Market, spoke toThe Calgary Eyeopener this morningabout how the operation works.

• Click on the "Listen" button above to hear the full interview

"We find local vendors, whether they raise meat, grow produce, make their own produced food in their kitchens and we find the best products and the best grocery items," said Faverin.

The products are then listed on their site yuba.caand can be ordered for next day delivery.

Faverin said the idea was partially sparked by learning our downtown is considered a "food desert."

"What that means is that it's almost impossible to purchase really good food, grocery items downtown,"saidFaverin.

If the idea is popular they have plans to expand to the rest of Calgary as well.

"Our next step is going to be putting pick-up points at a bunch of local business throughout the city with Yubafridges so people can order somewhere where it's close to them and just pick them up on their way home," saidFaverin. "Then the step after that is we're going to be starting to dodelivery to other high employment areas,"

The plans don't stop there either. They hope to offer assistance with greenhouses and even give outgrants to help local producers get their productsincluded for delivery.