Melissa Butler, a resident of St. John’s Newfoundland, entered the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award 2015 aiming to create a sustainable year-round organic produce business to help improve health in the community.
On Monday, June 22, BDC awarded Butler second place for her Farm to Table project, with a prize valued at $25,000 in consulting services.
[blockquote style=”center” color=”#0a0a0a” bg_color=”#f5e2e2″ border_color=”#8a0707″]“It’s been a great experience just to take part in this contest as a finalist,” said Butler in a press release. “The support we’ve seen has been incredible, from friends, family, customers, local celebrities and even strangers from outside the province. It proves there is a need for this, a market for it – Newfoundlanders are eager to improve their health and secure the island’s food supply.”[/blockquote]
The young entrepreneur runs Real Food Market where she retails organic produce, organic and grass-fed meats, wild fish, vegan and vegetarian food and gluten-free options at her store and using a home-delivery system.
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Michael Bergeron, senior vice president, marketing and public affairs at Montreal-based Business Development Bank of Canada said, “I congratulate Melissa on her win. She is working to find a practical way to create a sustainable, year-around organic food system in her province and our consulting services will certainly help her move forward.”
Butler looks forward to get to work on a public education program about healthier food choices for the community. She says she wants to use BDC’s support to partner with loca greenhouse operations to setup year-round organic vegetable production.
