North Simcoe entrepreneurs launch virtual farmers’ market

Evain Maurice and Bart Nagel -CTV screen shot

From the Farm2Door website

Farm2Door is a local food delivery service, sprouted out of an entrepreneurial collaboration in the Tiny/Penetang/Midland region in Ontario. The founding members are Rachel and Evain Maurice (Belleroots Farm and Spa), Bart Nagel (Bulbs of Fire Garlic) and Kirk Quesnelle (Georgian Bay Custom).

After the COVID-19 outbreak and the consequential shut downs, the founding entrepreneurs recognised the need for food delivery and less hands touching your food before you do.

Simultaneously Evain and Bart – both running their own local farm operation – were faced with a dire outlook on their own revenues because social distancing eradicated the viability of sales avenues like farmers markets and festivals. In other words: the connection between producer and consumer is in danger. And Farm2Door.ca is bringing the connection back! Better than ever actually: the farmer and his produce comes straight to your door.

Rachel and Evain actually launched a delivery service in mid March already, consisting of BelleRoots’ fresh greens, soups and Rachel’s artisan sourdoughs. The initial success and steep demand increase clearly indicated the sudden demand for farm fresh food delivered. Two weeks later, early April 2020, Farm2Door was born.

What sprouted as a quick solution to create income during the COVID-shutdowns, quickly grew into a business model that can actually keep local food local and help producers to connect with a local audience. This is such an improvement versus the current reality where BelleRoots and Bulbs of Fire drive to market far beyond the North simcoe municipalities to make ends meet.

The initial response when the news story of our launch broke has been heartwarming and slightly overwhelming. It became crystal clear that the support for local food is larger than we ever imagined. And we are so proud to be at the grass roots level of a renewed passion for everything that’s grown right here.

Media:

North Simcoe farmers ready to launch Farm2Door online store

‘Everyone in local food is hurting right now’

By Gisele Winton Sarvis Midland Mirror Apr 12, 2020

Farmers are facing an uncertain future amid restrictions caused by COVID-19.

“Everyone in local food is hurting right now,” said Bart Nagel, owner of Bulbs of Fire garlic in Tiny Township.

In order to keep the wolf from the door, two north Simcoe producers and an IT craftsman have collaborated and are launching Farm2Door on April 20 (website will go live April 20). The online store will offer delivery of farm-fresh foods to people’s doorsteps three times a week.

“The time to do this is now,” Nagel said.

Uncertain about how summer sales will go, Nagel talked to colleagues Evain and Rachel Maurice, owners of BelleRoots Farms and Spa in Tiny Township, about working together.

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