Bella Coola Valley Sustainable Agricultural Society (Social Enterprise Profile)

Bella Coola Valley Sustainable Agricultural Society

Bella Coola – Agricultural Social Enterprise

Background:

• "Community Supported Agriculture is a way to connect farmers to their community by sharing the risks and benefits inherent to farming. Subscribers to the CSA pledge to support their local farmers ahead of time, allowing them to plan the quantities that they sow accordingly. On the other hand consumers can express what they want farmers to produce more or less of.
• The result: fresher and tastier veggies that offset transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions and keep the money circulating locally for the benefit of all in the community.
• The Bella Coola CSA has the advantage of working with many farmers in the valley, allowing consumers to get the best of everyone's crops and the widest available selection locally." (From their website at http://www.bellacoolacsa.org)

The organization:

The Bella Coola Community Shared Agriculture Project (CSA) aims at rejuvenating the valley's agriculture via the promotion of a new food economy based on the values of sound agricultural practices and community.

The social enterprise:

The summer of 2010 was the CSA's first year. Their season started late and was further shortened by the infamous Bella Coola flood. It was no less full of learning and anticipation for the following season. They are currently planning all of next summer's crops (i.e., 2011's). Stay tuned! These are tasty times ahead! (From their website at http://www.bellacoolacsa.org).

As a sample of what the social enterprise distributed, here's what appeared in their September 2010 food box:

Romaine lettuce, Herb mix (basil, Italian parsley, sage), Spaghetti squash or Kabocha squash, Zucchinis, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Turnips, Clarence's Savoy cabbage ...what a treat!!! Sweet corn, Green peppers, Green onions, Walla-Walla Onions, Red Russian garlic, Green beans, Pears, Apples, Plums, Carrots, Potatoes, Cauliflower ... and the last minute serendipitous additions!

enp history:

The organization received two sets of funding in 2010 to help it conduct a feasibility study and then to develop a business plan for their food distribution venture. 

Click here for photos and a pdf version of this social enterprise story/snapshot.

Social Enterprise Stories, Snapshots and Videos

Enterprising Non-Profits is putting together a collection of videos and stories/snapshots featuring different social enterprises from around BC.  Above is the story/snapshot on the Bella Coola Valley Sustainable Agricultural Society.  To see stories/snapshots on other social enterprises in BC, click here.  (And to see our collection of social enterprise videos, click here).