My husband and I owned a small business in Calgary for eight years. My kids learned many things by watching Mom and Dad build a company from the ground up, but the most important may have been that small businesses are local families’ livelihoods.
That is just one of the many reasons we have traded in our neighbourhood chain grocery store for a fresh-food market and a working ranch as our main sources of food over the spring and summer months.
We use our weekly trips to these locations to teach our children where the food they eat comes from and how local residents’ hard work and dedication ensures it gets from the land to their plate.
SOUTO FARMS
Souto Farms opened just north of Airdrie four years ago and offers products from more than 40 local vendors, including bread and baked goods, dairy products, meat, fresh produce from their farms and other local farmers, jams and preserves, candy, snacks, ice cream, and more.
“We only carry what we serve our own families,” says co-owner Chris Souto.
“We want to provide reasonable prices for something grown naturally. Without our customers, we are nothing and we value that. Sustainability, value and community are the key pillars of our business.”
The walls of the market feature photos of the family’s story, from the Souto parents immigrating to Canada from Portugal until today. The family business started in Oliver, B.C., in 1970 when Alvin and Helena Souto (Souto’s parents) started a farm that grew various fruits like apples, cherries and peaches. Today, two of their kids operate the Airdrie-area location and the other two manage a store in Edmonton.
“We are a family-oriented environment with a playground, animals, a hay maze and more on our Airdrie site,” says Melissa Souto, co-owner and Chris Souto’s sister.
“We are 100-per cent Canadian owned, a healthy choice, and we do our very best to keep things affordable for local families. We are able to do that by doing as much in house as possible.”
YOUR LOCAL RANCH
A ranch is another great place for your family to learn about the hard work and dedication that goes into our food. Your Local Ranch raises its beef naturally with no added hormones on the property also located just north of Airdrie.
“We have chosen to dry-age the beef for 21 days for maximum flavour and tenderness,” says owner Wayne Hanson.
During the dry-aging process, beef is hung in a cooler, allowing the muscle fibres to de-contract, excess moisture to evaporate and the enzymes in the beef to break down muscle tissue. The result is a tender and flavourful cut of beef.
“The biggest feedback we get is that people can’t believe the difference in taste between our meat and the grocery store,” says Hanson. “Our goal is to produce a product that is identical every time you buy and eat it, and we do that by controlling the entire process. Breeding to plate — we control it all.”
My husband and I love to bring our kids to tour the farm and see the livestock, learn more about the ranch history, and understand the family’s passion about their product and service.
“We want to educate the customer, even if they don’t buy from us,” says Hanson.
“But, once they do, we know they will be back!”
Your Local Ranch also sells chicken from Bowden, pork from Beiseker and sausage, as well as spices and sauces to complement the other products.
Shopping local, eating healthy, saving money, learning life lessons and getting outdoors — there are countless benefits to adding a farmers’ market or ranch to your family’s weekly shopping trip.
The flavours of the fresh products are enough for anyone to make the switch from grocery store to market, but appreciating the work, time and dedication that goes into producing them makes them taste that much sweeter.
