Susan Tychie began Share Organics as a bi-weekly buying group in December of 1996. As the group expanded it became obvious that some coordination of orders was needed so that everyone could order the same items in the same week to take advantage of case lot discounts. The idea of a co-op was discussed but not pursued. Susan took on the role of coordinating and distributing the orders.
Next it became evident that having the items delivered would be very convenient. When weekly delivery was the preferred option it was obvious that more help was needed.
Share Organics took the next step in April of 1998 to provide a weekly, organic produce box delivery service in the Victoria area. A mission statement evolved for Share Organics:
Share Organics is committed to providing our community
with a convenient way of receiving reasonably priced,
high quality, organic products; and to support and
promote local growers in sustainable organic agriculture.
Susan has worked in the natural food industry for the past 10 years and has been an organic gardener all her life. She is committed to organic movement and to local food sustainability.
A need was identified for an organic produce box delivery service that offered a choice for the customer in box sizes and in the box contents. Share Organics took up the challenge.
Local produce was important in terms of freshness, local economic sustainability and the superior standards of the local certifying body, the Island Organic Producers Association (I.O.P.A.).
Local produce from certified farmers was scarce and so Share Organics supports local organic farmers in the certification process by buying their products in the transitional years. Transitional farmers are growing using strictly organic methods while they await certification. Over the years we have supported many farmers though this transition time and now enjoy their wonderful certified organic produce.
Our products include produce boxes, with a variety of fruits and vegetables, and an extensive selection of organic dried fruits, nuts, beans, grains and flours - all organically grown and delivered right to your door. Local organic free-range eggs, sold by the dozen, are also available on request.
Share Organics has always grown to meet the demands of the time. Many customers requested a more complete product line to make home shopping easier. We have added on many products, bread, tofu, cheese, canned goods and more.
We looked for top quality organic products that are produced in our bio region. We choose sizes that facilitated bicycle delivery and packaging that was as sustainable as possible.
Susan, while continuing to run Share Organics, has gone on to develop a web portal Home Delivery Management with E-commerce specialist Pam Sallaway. This system helps run Share Organics.
It is also available to other companies interested in providing fully customized on line organic shopping in their region. Getting local food to the local community has been Susan's personal goal and now she had made this option available to other communities.
Home Delivery Management has allowed us to offer you fully customized boxes, and to easily increase the number of products we can offer you!
Share Organics has been a supporter of FoodRoots Distributors Co-op and now shares warehouse space with this not for profit organic distributor best known for their Pocket Markets and Sustainable Feasts. Our new warehouse is also shared with another non profit involved in food security and urban agriculture: LifeCycles Project Society.
The Share Organics mission statement guides us in the decisions we make for the company and in our search for a vision of the future.
We expect to continue to offer a personalized home delivery service to people in the Victoria area and hope that, through our efforts, Share Organics can make a difference to people's health and to the health of our environment.
Thank you for choosing Share Organics!
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