How You Can Buy Local This Giving Season
As the holidays approach, inboxes and store aisles are bursting with Black Friday deals and big-box discounts. But amidst the noise, it’s worth remembering that every dollar we spend has power — the power to shape the kind of communities, economy, and food systems we want to see thrive.
At Fair Finance Fund, we believe in using that power to build local resilience. Supporting small-scale farmers, creators, and community businesses doesn’t just mean finding something special — it means fueling livelihoods, protecting the planet, and keeping wealth circulating in our own regions.
5 Ways to Support Local This Holiday:
Choose local ingredients for your holiday meals and treats. Seasonal ingredients lend themselves beautifully to hearty and heart-warming meals to share with family, friends, or chosen loved ones.
Shop at your local farmers market or holiday market. Did you know that many local farmers markets continue year-round, making buying local an easy one-stop option. Plus, keep an eye out for neighbourhood craft and holiday markets around you, supporting small-scale creators and makers directly.
Short on time? Buy gift cards to your neighbourhood cafe, favourite family-owned restaurant, or local artists’ store.
Subscribe to local by pre-purchasing a spring CSA program (or a winter CSA if available!) and ensure your loved ones can enjoy the best of the season while supporting local farmers. Pro tip: Use the Organic Council of Ontario’s directory to search for CSA programs near you.
Give the gift of a resilient food future: purchase a Community Bond through the Fair Finance Fund on behalf of someone special, and we will send a personalised thank you and Bond Certificate.
This holiday season, we encourage you to shop local, eat local, and invest local. Here are some incredible Ontario-based businesses and experiences — many connected to our extended community — offering meaningful, locally rooted gifts this year:
✨ Local Gifts, Food, and Experiences Worth Celebrating
Trio Honey Tasting Packs from Humble Bee
Discover the sweetness of small-batch honey with this curated tasting pack — a perfect stocking stuffer for foodies.
Lowlands Fire Food at 100 Acre Brewery
A cozy, wood-fired FeastON-certified restaurant in Peterborough — perfect for winter nights out on the heated patio.
Local Holiday Gift Boxes & Christmas Dinner Pre-Orders from Click Fork Kitchen
Click Fork Local Holiday Gift BoxesShop curated, pre-wrapped holiday boxes filled with artisanal local products — ideal for family, colleagues, or clients. Plus, make your holiday effortless and extra special with locally sourced, chef-prepared Christmas dinners. Simply heat, serve, and enjoy a farm-to-table feast made with care by Chef Michelle and her team.
13 Suns Holiday Market
On Friday, December 12th, join 13 Suns Café for a magical evening of local makers, treats, handcrafted goods, and cozy cheer — free to attend! This festive evening will bring together community, creativity, and holiday magic.
With Heat Gourmet Cooking Sauce from Siika Foods
Bring authentic Scotch Bonnet warmth to every holiday meal with this festive gourmet sauce — handcrafted for bold, flavourful cooking.
Sundance Harvest Market Card
A fun twist on the CSA model — purchase a market card and let your loved ones choose fresh produce, flowers, and seasonal fruit while helping urban farmers grow.
MRKTBOX Holiday Grocery Bond
Give fresh, local food all year long with MRKTBOX’s prepaid grocery bonds — the gift that supports local producers and families alike.
AfroGourmets Holiday Cooking Experience & Gift Collection
Give the gift of flavour! AfroGourmets offers festive cooking classes, holiday gift boxes (sauces, jams, and spice blends), and $100 digital gift cards — all inspired by rich African culinary traditions. Perfect for food lovers who want to cook, taste, and celebrate together.
Flowers of the Field Christmas Wreaths
Handmade fresh wreaths crafted on the farm — festive, fragrant, and made with care.
Festive Holiday Catering & Holiday Wishbook 2025
Hosting a gathering? Let Click Fork’s Red Seal chefs bring chef-crafted local dishes straight to your table. Or if you’re looking for a gift, browse this cozy collection of Northeastern Ontario makers, from hand-poured candles to festive meals and farm-fresh treats.
Classic Juice Co. Holiday Sips & Seasonal Essentials Collection
From Jamaican Sorrel and Rose Petal Lemonade to gift cards and self-care bundles, Classic Juice Co. delivers health, flavour, and joy — ideal for family or corporate gifting.
Venture Catalyst Showcase & Holiday Social
Celebrate innovation and community with YSpace, York University, and the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance at this vibrant holiday showcase — featuring dynamic pitches, a festive lunch, and networking with local founders and mentors.
Urban Tractor Farm Winery Ornament Class
Spend a festive afternoon crafting fused glass ornaments — handmade gifts that bring warmth and creativity to the season.
Bootstrapping for Business Owners – Built 2 Stack For entrepreneurs, automation is the gift of time. Built 2 Stack helps small business owners streamline lead generation and reputation management. Mention “Fair Finance Fund” during your discovery call to receive your first 30 days free plus 15% off your second month.
Split Rail Brewing Co.
Raise a glass to local! Split Rail Brewery on Manitoulin Island offers craft beer and non-alcoholic seltzers — a taste of Ontario’s North.
Aangen’s Food Security Holiday BOGO
Buy One. Give One. Feed Someone. This season, Aangen is working to feed 5,000 people and ensure that every meal is a step toward a more equitable food system.
Why Local Matters
Supporting local creators and producers goes beyond feel-good holiday shopping — it keeps small businesses alive, strengthens regional food systems, and builds community wealth. Every purchase helps pay a fair wage, sustain a local farmer, or keep a small storefront open.
At Fair Finance Fund, we’ve seen the transformative power of local investment. Our loan clients across Ontario are proving that when communities invest in their own food systems, they create jobs, reduce emissions, and cultivate resilience from the ground up.
So this Black Friday and holiday season, skip the mega-deals and choose gifts that give back — to your neighbours, your local farmers, and your future.
Our sustainable community bonds offer fixed returns while supporting Ontario’s farms, food businesses, and local economies. By investing, you help drive social, environmental, and economic resilience in your community. Be part of the change and make your money work for good.
