Co-ops across Western Canada work with local farmers and producers to bring their products from the farm to your fork. Co-op is there every step of the way – from production to the grocery store shelf – providing products and expertise on the farm, helping to create the end products, and introducing it at your Co-op Food Store.

South Country Co-op is excited to launch a new program called Farm to Fork, aimed at giving consumers a look at where their food comes from and how YOU can support #Canadianmade products.

Read on to learn more about our featured #FarmtoFork vendors.

Crafted Corn

Crafted Corn is our first local vendor featured in our #FarmtoFork series 🌽😁

Crafted Corn Inc. was founded in 2002, by Joel Cote in Lethbridge, AB and started based on two concepts: making Canada’s best-tasting caramel popcorn and having social reasonability as the cornerstone of its foundation. The caramel popcorn offered by Crafted Corn sources 5 out of 7 ingredients here in Southern Alberta, and the other 2 are sourced from other parts of Canada but Cote is eager to source all 7 locally.

Childhood memories of delicious caramel popcorn and a gap in the market inspired Cote to pursue his dreams of bringing the best product possible to market. The journey has been difficult but rewarding. The company champions a living wage, an inclusive environment, a positive work/life balance and clear, achievable objectives to encourage their team to do their best.

Crafted Corn approaches balancing challenges eagerly and with a positive attitude. “I believe that corporations can still be viable when putting the product and the people over profits,” Cote said. “We understand the importance of community and the benefits of supporting our local neighbours.”

Crafted Corn was at our South Country Co-op Food Stores to sample in Taber on Tuesday, February 25 and in Medicine Hat on Wednesday, February 26.

Brandi's Salsa

A passion for cooking, a commitment to local, and a drive to innovate and expand have propelled Brandi’s Salsa to unimaginable heights! They’re our second #FarmtoFork 🌽 series feature.

Brandi Matthews just wanted to stay busy during the pandemic. Little did she know that planting a large garden to pass the time would turn into a life-changing business venture. Just four years later, Brandi has transformed her homemade salsa into a recognizable brand sold across the province and beyond!

Within a year, demand for Brandi’s products outpaced her ability to grow her own produce so she began sourcing from local greenhouses. The lone exception is mangoes, which come from Mexico. South Country Co-op’s Northlands location was the first to express interest in carrying Brandi’s products, and soon they began appearing in other stores, as well.

As she expanded and opened a commercial kitchen to keep up with demand, she also crafted options with more heat—but even the spiciest varieties are carefully balanced to deliver exceptional flavor. She offers a wide variety of flavor profiles, ranging from Mild to the fiery Dragon’s Breath. One of the most popular creations is a sweet and mild Mango salsa, which is so popular it’s often hard to keep in stock.

“This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I am excited to continue bringing my passion and products to others,” Brandi said. “The positive feedback and enthusiasm for my products has been motivating, driving me to keep innovating and expanding.”

Brandi’s Salsa will be on location at our Medicine Hat stores, 13th Ave and Northlands, from 11am - 5pm on Tuesday, March 4 during 15% off Tuesday.

Your Preference Kombucha

Our 3rd #FarmtoFork feature is Your Preference Kombucha.

Your Preference Kombucha & Water Kefir is a Nano-brewery in Medicine Hat specializing in fermented beverages. They keep their batches small but are big on finding the highest-quality ingredients to craft their products. Kombucha is a fermented, lightly carbonated, sweetened black tea drink.

Ken Holmes, 85, began brewing Kombucha in his basement; in just a few months, he and Bruce Allworth, his business partner and company CEO, saw their vision of a small-batch craft kombucha and water kefir brewery become a reality.

SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) is used in the fermentation of kombucha; it consumes the sugar and caffeine in the tea Your Preference brews and produces a delicious and nutritious beverage.

Their Blueberry Haskap Lavender Kombucha, created for Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), recently earned the prestigious Private Label Food Product award at the 31st Annual Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards in Montreal, QC. Winners of these annual awards are judged by four key factors: Product Characteristics, Innovation & Originality, Presentation & Packaging, and Overall Consumer Value.

“Our small-batch craft brewed Kombucha and Water Kefir, along with our new and Unique Kombucha and Water Kefir probiotic/prebiotic gummies, set us apart from the traditional Kombucha Brewers,” Allworth said. “Our beverages are alive and full of healthy probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to help you maintain and improve your healthy lifestyle. Each drink is very low in sugar and carbs, plus it's gluten-free and vegan-friendly.”

Medicine Hat Meat Traders 

For Medicine Hat Meat Traders (MHMT), the transition from ranching to making award-winning Craft Beef Jerky was easy. They’re our 4th Farm to Fork 🌽 feature vendor!

MHMT has been making their beef jerky since 2006 after they noticed how limited the selection was in stores. They also received a lot of positive feedback from provincial trade shows that helped convince them to take their product to market. Since then, they’ve been growing steadily, and you can find their products in over 100 locations across Alberta, including South Country Co-op food stores and gas bars.

“As long as there are people to feed, there’s a job for Alberta agriculture,” said Greg Pahl, CEO, during a time of expansion for MHMT in 2021. For 15 years, they made their products in a facility the size of a garage, but planned facility upgrades tripled the size of their operation.

“With our family’s ranching background, it was an easy transition for Greg and Jackson to specialize in a tender Beef Jerky,” said Joanne Pahl, owner. “We use high quality Alberta beef to make our delicious products - Soft Beef Jerky, Beef and Pork Charcuterie Bites, and unique Beef Jerky Caesar Sticks.”

MHMT is also a big supporter of community efforts. Every year, schools and community groups look for fundraising opportunities to help reach their goal; since 2018, MHMT has helped raise over $100,000 for various groups.

“Our family-run business not only uses local suppliers and vendors, we're focused on giving back to the community around us.”

You can try MHMT products for yourself at our food stores in Medicine Hat and Taber.