Longtime farmer goes all-local with new marketplace

After a lifetime of farming as a kid with his family and as an owner of an organic operation near Fillmore, Tim Shultz is using the lessons he has learned in the field to open up shop in Regina.

The 39-year-old and his wife, Carla, are co-owners of Local Market in the city’s Warehouse District. The new food and gathering spot promotes all things local: Agriculture producers, ingredients, prepared food and even coffee and donuts.

It’s his and Carla’s attempt to keep the local producers economy going, while meeting buyers’ intentions to know where and from whom their food comes.

“We’re seeing a shift to small-scale agriculture. We’re seeing more direct-to-consumer relationships, and we’re seeing consumers really search for good quality food,” he said.

That makes for an ideal marketplace that local producers can thrive in.

Shultz said those changing market demands are due in part to buyers now seeking out more organic food.

“When I was a kid, grain and livestock were often the focus in Saskatchewan when it came to agriculture,” he said.

Local & Fresh has been operating for years, but the Local Market location is new. Its grand opening is happening over three days; it started Thursday and concludes at the end of day Saturday.

Regina-area chefs will use this kitchen at Local Market on a rotating basis to serve food to patrons. (Evan Radford/980 CJME)

Spread out on the first floor of an old brick building on Hamilton Street, it includes the Local & Fresh grocery store, flanked by Local Food Hall and The Docks Event Centre on either side.

The grocery store only carries locally sourced ingredients, prepared food items and a few gifts and pottery items.

The food hall hosts local chefs from the Regina area on a rotating basis. The event centre is rented out for meetings, conferences and weddings.

Shultz said Saskatchewan-grown blueberries — not just Saskatoons — are an example of locally produced food that buyers should be excited about.

“(They’re) found in northern Saskatchewan. You’re not going to find blueberries like that anywhere else,” he said.

They’re grown in the Nipawin area and in other regions north of La Ronge, he said.

“And we’re known across Canada for wild morel mushrooms and chanterelle mushrooms,” Shultz added.

Along with the couple’s knowledge and experience in farming, he said they’re passionate about supporting the local economy.

“There are so many entrepreneurs, small family farms, small operations that really rely on our support,” Shultz said. “(It’s important) to provide a platform for local producers like myself that need that outlet to sell their product.”

After years of selling his organic items at the Regina Farmer’s Market, Shultz said he came to appreciate building relationships and trust with customers about the source of the food they’re buying.

As a local guy who grew up farming the land in southeast Saskatchewan, Shultz said he and Carla feel honoured to be opening their business in Regina.

“I hope we can help bring awareness to the amazing food scene that really is here in Saskatchewan,” he said.