The recent shift towards buying local products has benefits that ripple far beyond supporting Canadian businesses during the U.S. trade war.

While changing your grocery shopping habits can be inconvenient, buying local food strengthens the Comox Valley food system and plays a key role in sustainable emergency planning.

In light of the recent tariffs imposed on Canadian goods imported to the U.S., Canadian leadership has called on citizens to "choose Canadian products and services rather than American ones." It has proposed retaliatory tariffs on American goods, including vegetables. This will lead to higher grocery bills in the short term as distributors increase prices to offset the increased shipping and import costs. However, if the community comes together to support local farmers and producers, we could experience the long-term beneficial effect of building resilience for whatever the future brings by strengthening the local food economy, reducing carbon footprints, and ensuring that essential goods and services remain accessible during challenging times.

In July of 2024, Kwantlen Polytechnic University released a report analyzing B.C.鈥檚 Food Supply Chain, determining that 鈥淏.C. is currently 19 (min) to 34 per cent (max) self-reliant for food. The remaining 66 to 81 per cent of food consumption must be supplied from elsewhere.鈥�  

While local farmers can grow much more produce in our fertile Valley, they can only grow as much as they are realistically able to sell before expiration. With imported produce increasing in price, if we continue to support the local food economy, prices of local produce will decrease as farmers find stable sales outlets. To ensure abundant, affordable local food well into the future, we must support our local farmers, producers and distributors today. 

Some effective ways to support local producers and build a resilient food system include shopping at locally-owned businesses, the Comox Valley Farmers Market and local farm stands.

Additionally, look for items that are produced or grown as locally as possible. LUSH Valley鈥檚 Good Food Box team takes the guesswork out of this process by sourcing in-season produce from more than 30 Comox Valley farms whenever available, only looking to Vancouver Island, B.C. or further afield when necessary, distributing 100 per cent Comox Valley-local food eight months out of the year.

Show some local love today to keep your grocery bills low while building a resilient food system that will support our community well into the future, even in the face of emergencies or disruptions.