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FRESH Cowichan Marketplace, a small storefront operated by Cowichan Green Community (CGC) in the heart of Duncan, is celebrating the 1-year anniversary of its big transformation into a wellstocked grocery store. The reFRESH team has had a busy year, filling up shelf space, adding new products based on customer needs, and building new relationships with suppliers and vendors. The result is an eclectic and colourful array of grocery essentials and local goods. Besides pantry staples, organic dairy, and homemade frozen meals, the store also offers a selection of locally grown produce and unique artisanal products made by local artists.
Chai teas, Yeshi Dressing, Fredrich’s Honey, and Andersen’s Flax Rolls. In addition, the store carries items from a selected few artisanal vendors, including soy candles from Annie’s Cottage Candles, art prints by local artist Wilson Tutube, stained glass pieces by Leadlight Vagrant, and pottery by Patchwork Pottery & Crafts.
Delicious Finds at reFRESH Marketplace Among the suppliers are CGC’s Garden Education Centre and Inclusion Garden, as well as KinPark Youth Urban Farm. Both initiatives have had a fantastic harvest this summer, and were able to offer a beautiful abundance of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to reFRESH customers.
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In addition, reFRESH was able to partner with Honeybush Farm - a small farm located on Somenos Road at the base of Mt Prevost to offer their delicious beets, carrots, zucchinis and cucumbers that have been immensely popular amongst shoppers. Farm fresh chicken eggs as well as ethically raised meat products are sourced from Schroeder’s Farm - a local family farm in Cobble Hill. reFRESH carries Schroeder’s sausages, ground beef, ground pork, and a selection of chicken products. An added bonus is farmer Samantha Schroeder picks up compost from the reFRESH Cowichan Food Recovery Program to feed her livestock, essentially ‘closing the loop’ on the initiative. Other local food products available at reFRESH include cookies from Mindful Mouthful, a social enterprise owned and operated by the Clements Centre Society, as well as Peanut Butter from Island Nut Roastery, and pies from Little Zimbabwe Farm. You’ll also find Cowichan Pasta, That’s My Jam, Rockin’ Risotto, Shanti
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This summer, reFRESH also launched a brand new website. The site includes an online store with the option to place orders for curbside pickup. For now, the site only lists frozen meals from the reFRESH Cowichan Kitchen, but keep checking back, the inventory will increase over time. There are five pickup time slots available on Saturday mornings. To learn more and browse the new website, visit www. refreshcowichan.ca. To celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the renovations and relaunch of reFRESH, the team is hosting an event on Saturday, October 16th, 2021 from 11am-2pm. Customers can expect delicious homemade goodies, chances at a prize wheel, a CGC information booth, and more! Make sure to put this date in your calendar and come visit. For more information, or if you are interested in renting a shelf or becoming a wholesale supplier, please contact reFRESH Cowichan Marketplace Manager Julika Pape at julika@ cowichangreencommunity.org or call (250) 748-8506.
Submitted by Julika Pape
