Simcoe Harvest, a grassroots company that grew out of the COVID-19 pandemic, provides local residents an opportunity to purchase a bag of farm-fresh, in-season produce delivered to your doorstep.
Innisfil resident Anna Stegink came up with the idea for Simcoe Harvest after being laid off from her job as a nurse at a fertility clinic.
“I lost my job temporarily and was looking for something to do that would help the community,” Stegink explained.
During the first week of operations, Stegink was the lone employee of Simcoe Harvest, preparing, packaging, and delivering local produce to customers all by herself.
As the popularity of the company rapidly grew, Stegink found herself in need of some help.
“It went from zero to 100 in about a week. We (have) had a great response from the community,” Stegink said. “People tell their friends, tell their neighbours ... and it just keeps growing.”
Stegink now rents a hall in downtown Barrie where her growing team of 10 people prepare deliveries for residents of Barrie Innisfil, Angus, Midhurst, Minesing, and, newly added just this week, Orillia.
“We had people from Orillia telling us they wanted us to start delivering there, so that’s why we chose to expand,” Stegink said.
Stegink has her sights on expanding to Wasaga Beach, Alliston and Collingwood next.
The fresh produce supplied by local farms arrives in the hands of Simcoe Harvest on the morning of delivery so customers can expect products to be fresh.
The offering for customers changes weekly based on what is in season and available locally.
“This week, for example, our customers are receiving baby kale, a medley of herbs, oyster mushrooms, strawberries, organic rainbow carrots, white onions, cherry tomatoes and cucumber,” she said.
The service costs $32.50 (plus delivery) and the price point is comparable to produce prices you would find in a grocery store, Stegink said.
“I’m always looking at what things are costing in the grocery store so I can make it at least on par with that.”
The small amount of profit that Stegink has earned has gone back into the business while any extra produce left over from deliveries is being donated to local homeless shelters or food banks.
One of the factors in Simcoe Harvest’s rapid growth in popularity has been attributed to community residents’ desire to shop local during the pandemic, she said.
“I always tell people where the food is coming from so they can get to know the local farmers who are producing their food,” Stegink said. “People want to support their local communities right now and we are enabling them to do so, which is a good feeling.”
Once the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, Stegink plans on continuing offering the Simcoe Harvest service.
“I’ve had lots of customers say as long as we keep doing this, they will stay ordering,” she said. "My plan is to keep doing this. I’m not planning on going back to work because we are so busy here.”
Stegink believes she has created an important resource for community members to shop local, something she hopes remains important to people post-pandemic.
“When everything opens back up, I think It’s still important to support local and support our local farmers,” she said.
For those interested in ordering fresh produce through Simcoe Harvest, you can access a sign-up form through their website.
