Pop-up produce markets a fresh way to combat food insecurity in Calgary as prices edge up

Sophie Walchuk gets off at the Sunalta CTrain station each day, so a new program that started there recently has the southwest Calgary resident smiling from ear to ear.

"On my way home, if I forget something or want to try something new, I can just pick it up and go on my way," Walchuk told CBC News in an interview.

She's talking about a pop-up produce market that offers fruits and veggies at up to 45 per cent less than a standard grocery store, all at the base of her train station.

"I think these guys are doing a wonderful job. They are just really good community people. This is their way of helping. I really appreciate it because it keeps my food costs down."

Keeping costs down is a challenge more than ever as the effects of COVID reach into supply chains and other areas not understood before.

One estimate puts a year-over-year hike in the cost of food for a family of four at a whopping $220 per month.

That's part of what Fresh Routes is hoping to address.

Nikita Scringer says the non-profit social enterprise — which launched in 2019 just before the COVID pandemic hit — is about using economies of scale to deliver good quality produce at low prices in spaces that are convenient for everyone, including people with financial challenges.

"You can go to a fast food restaurant and get a cheap meal, but it's not the best for you. It's not giving you those nutrients, and it's not going to sustain you throughout the day," Scringer said.

And providing those nutrients for sustenance is what Fresh Routes is all about.

"We know how hard it is for some families to be able to get a meal on the table, let alone getting something that is hitting all those major food groups. That's what we are trying to do," she said.

"We want to be able to provide people with a sense of dignity and pride. We know Calgarians work hard and every cent counts, but the ability to choose the fruits and veggies you want, and will actually eat and enjoy, gives people that great sense of dignity, and it also helps with food waste."

CBC Calgary is looking at the high cost of food this fall because of the steep increases at the grocery store.

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