Feature: NOWBC Co-op

If you're looking for a way to get your hands on affordable groceries, look no further. Buying clubs are groups of individuals who combine their buying power in order to benefit from wholesale prices and provide members with fresh, affordable food. By purchasing goods as a collective, customers are able to access lots of organic foods that would be less readily available otherwise.

Source: NOWBC Co-op

Neighbours Organic Weekly Buying Clubs (NOWBC) is a co-operative that strives to build a sustainable local food system by connecting local farms and processors with consumers and by building community around sustainable food choices. Originally formed in 2008 as a buying club, NOWBC Co-op has since blossomed into an online farmers' market that provides seasonal, local, organic foods sourced directly from small farms and processors, as well as fairly-traded goods not available locally and eco-friendly household items.

The emphasis of the co-op is on providing sustainable and ethically-traded groceries, supporting local producers in order to help strengthen the food system, and building community around sustainable local food and the sharing of knowledge.

NOWBC is open to members and non-members. There is usually a one-time $20 registration fee charged to new non-member customers, but this fee is currently being waived. Becoming a member requires a $90 investment ($10 per share, to a total of 9 shares), which is put towards expanding the selection offered by the co-op and covering costs associated with the delivery of groceries to customers. Orders are made online each week before the deadline and then shipped to depots in Vancouver, Burnaby, and North Vancouver.

For more information, to register with the co-op, or to become a member, please visit the NOWBC Co-op website: http://www.nowbc.ca/.