A Homegrown Story
A Homegrown Story: How Proudly Saskatchewan Products Make it to the Shelves of Local Co-op Food Stores
If you are from Kelvington, SK, you likely recognize the locally grown and produced Dam Good Garlic products. Maybe you have family or friends from Lumsden and love the jams, spreads and topping from Over the Hill Orchard. Both of these Proudly Saskatchewan products made their way to the shelves of Prairie North Co-op food stores in slightly different ways.
Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) makes a number of Saskatchewan Made products available to local Co-op stores through its distribution centre, basically doing the legwork required to meet legislative requirements. This explains the Over the Hill Orchards products that are available throughout the Co-op Retailing System (CRS). From Manitoba to BC, if your local Co-op food store wants to make these products available to their customers, they are stocked in the warehouse.
Hyper-local products make their way to the shelves in a little different manner. In terms of licensing and inspection, all products must be inspected by the appropriate level of government and comply with all applicable food safety regulations. Once a local company can provide proof that they have done their due diligence, local Co-op food store managers can decide whether to carry the product.
“As a Co-op, we deeply value local, and what better way to show that support than by promoting Saskatchewan-made products? It's a great way to help these businesses thrive while staying true to our community roots,” explains Justin Chaskavich, Prairie North Co-op Melfort food store manager. Chaskavich goes on to say, “I love supporting small businesses and local products, especially since many of these companies are just starting out and working hard to grow. Excluding the Saskatchewan-made products we receive from FCL, I have had the privilege of working with over 15 local companies across Saskatchewan to bring their products into our store, adding more than 60 SKUs to our offerings”.
Besides the beverage, snack and spice items pictured, other products range from Meskanaw Honey to Beef Jerky (1886 from Big River), to Saskatoon Berry Cider, to a variety of produce from Star City Colony to name a few.
“I highly encourage customers to try these products—they are not only delicious but also of the highest quality, proudly made right here at home in Saskatchewan,” says Chaskavich.
In 2024, Justin Chaskavich celebrated 10 years of service in the CRS. Chaskavich began his career with the Saskatoon Co-op as a courtesy clerk on June 27, 2014. In 2016, he moved into a cashier role and by 2017 he became a cashier supervisor. In July of 2018, Chaskavich had an opportunity to enter the Grocery Manager Trainee program in Humboldt. He completed the program in July of 2019 and became the Grocery Manager. In April 2020 he moved to Melfort to start his Food One to One program with Prairie North Co-op. Shortly after completion two years later, he was awarded the Food Manager position and has been in the role ever since. Outside of work, Chaskavich is a board member of the Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce and a coach with the Melfort Youth Soccer Association.