Why Supporting BIPOC Food Businesses Is Beneficial & Can Help You Become More Eco-Friendly

November 18, 2020

BIPOC food businesses have long since been a multifaceted machine in providing a sense of community & support, but they’re also integral to the connection with our environment through food.

By Avneet Takhar

This year, more than 4.5 million people across Canada have faced food insecurity, with BIPOC communities affected disproportionately. Doing their part to mitigate the impact, Canadian BIPOC food businesses have been quietly leading the way by giving back. 

The positive outcomes

  • Donating entire profits to organizations, including ones dedicated to Indigenous youth through providing daily hot lunches, food security and First Nations teachings which speak on working harmoniously with the land. 
  • Providing paid employment and training programs for newcomer refugees & immigrant youth from purchases made by consumers, resulting in 37 trainees working for certain food outlets
  • Maintaining an ecological mindset by using fruits and vegetables from local farmers to make produce that would otherwise be thrown into landfill, with countless lbs of food scraps salvaged.

Further initiatives such as working alongside fairtrade farmers, and sourcing additional local ingredients from other BIPOC food businesses, as well as partnering with ecological NGOs and using recyclable materials to reduce waste, have also improved Canada’s food infrastructure.

Taking care of vulnerable minority groups and using just practices, whilst being kind to the planet, shows that being an all-around conscious player counts. You too can be #CanadasPositiveImpact!

How you benefit: 

  • Becoming in-tune with different cultural foods- neato for you and your palette!
  • Traditional foods are usually made with traditional methods and ingredients, which adds to the health and wellness factor. 
  • Minority groups- local, and also in third world countries often contribute to the food you eat, and as they receive fair wages, economic stability increases.
  • How land is utilized and the way produce is grown is better for the environment with BIPOC operations (conservation systems, biodiversity knowledge, farming and cooperatives), contributing to better quality of ingredients. 

How you can reduce your ecological footprint by supporting BIPOC food businesses: 

  • Opt for plant-based BIPOC products whenever you can.
  • Shop from local BIPOC, as more resourceful systems are put in place (less food miles and higher nutritional value).
  • Preserve your BIPOC produce by re-evaluating how you prepare and store them to avoid waste. 
  • Innovate your BIPOC food scraps to make a simple meal.

BUYPOC here!  Browse for now, the virtual pop-up shop will go live on Friday 20th- Sunday 22nd, with 10% off for BIPOC Friday on the 20th.

Use code: BIPOCFRIDAY.

 

By Avneet Takhar (she/her), 

Co-founder of @bipocfoodsvan

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