Go Wylde with good food.
Supporting Small-Scale Sustainable Food Producers for Healthier Living
How can we support small-scale, sustainable food producers to live healthier lives and make more conscious choices? Ella Cooper, co-founder of Wylde Market, an online platform connecting consumers to small-scale sustainable producers, explores this question in a powerful episode of the Brave New Girls podcast.
Wylde Market operates as an online farmers' market, offering goods from farmers, fishermen, bakers, and even deer managers. By allowing producers to set their own prices and delivering nationwide every Friday, Wylde Market ensures that both the environment and people’s health benefit from ethical, nutrient-rich food.
The Journey to Sustainability
Ella and her co-founder Nick Jefferson began Wylde Market in 2022 with a mission: to connect people with producers who uphold regenerative and sustainable practices. Regenerative farming, as Ella explains, goes beyond sustainability. It seeks to improve soil health and biodiversity, ensuring long-term agricultural viability.
This ethos extends to the fishermen who catch line-caught fish and deer managers who promote environmental balance through venison. Wylde Market has become a hub for customers seeking organic, nutrient-dense produce, offering seasonal items and fermented foods like kimchi.
Ella emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the seasons, stating that “Mother Nature knows best.” Eating what’s in season provides health benefits tailored to the time of year, such as immune-boosting squash and kale in autumn.
Challenges and Triumphs
Despite its benefits, sustainable eating faces hurdles. Industrial farming often receives subsidies, making its products cheaper. Meanwhile, small-scale producers set their prices to cover the costs of ethical farming, which can appear costly in comparison. Yet, Wylde Market’s transparency helps educate customers about why these practices are worth supporting.
Ella also shares heartening stories of customers embracing real farming. For instance, a frost destroyed the week’s crop of purple sprouting broccoli, but customers responded with understanding, appreciating the authenticity of the process.
Wylde Market’s customer base spans from those deeply invested in ethical eating to those curious about making healthier choices. Ella’s transparent communication about producers’ practices fosters trust and community.
What We Can Learn
Ella’s story teaches us that conscious consumerism is courageous. Quoting Rollo May, she says, “The opposite of courage in society is not cowardice, it is conformity.” Breaking free from the convenience of industrial food systems requires bold choices but yields long-term benefits for health, the planet, and the communities sustaining us.
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps to Support Sustainable Food Producers
Buy Seasonal Produce: Choose fruits and vegetables that are in season to support local farmers.
Shop Locally: Visit farmers’ markets or platforms like Wylde Market.
Embrace Regenerative Practices: Look for labels indicating regenerative or organic farming.
Diversify Your Protein Sources: Opt for sustainable options like venison or line-caught fish.
Minimize Food Waste: Repurpose leftovers and make bone broths or stocks.
Cook Creatively: Experiment with seasonal ingredients to create nutrient-rich meals.
Educate Yourself: Learn about the impact of your food choices on health and the environment.
Share Knowledge: Discuss sustainable eating with friends and family.
Support Policy Changes: Advocate for subsidies to support regenerative and organic farming.
Reward Ethical Practices: Choose brands and producers that prioritize sustainability.
Support small-scale sustainable producers like Wylde Market to live healthily and make choices that benefit our planet.
PS. Listen HERE to ELLA’S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
