5 Reasons Lazy Daisy Shops Local

At Lazy Daisy’s, we believe in keeping it local. In fact, it’s one of our core beliefs. We buy all of our ingredients from nearby farms and local shops. 

Why? 

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, many of which have struggled to survive over the past few years due to the pandemic. Shopping locally benefits us all on a local and global scale. 

Here’s how:

It Tastes Better

At Lazy Daisy’s, taste is of the utmost importance. We want every dish on our menu to be delectable and mouthwatering. Growing up on the farm, I know deliciousness starts with fresh ingredients and secret family recipes. 

So, we’ve partnered with Fresh from the Farm, who work with Mennonite farmers in the Kitchener/Waterloo region to bring fresh produce, meats, cheese, and dairy to the city. 

Voted 'best natural food market' by Now Magazine and praised as "the most unique grocery store in the city" by the Toronto Star. Daisy is proud to offer their smoked bacon from Earlidale Farm on our menu, as well as Burkhart’s Maple Syrup.

It’s More Nutritious

Studies show that farm fresh eggs have less cholesterol and saturated fat than those purchased from the store. They also contain more vitamin E, beta carotene, and Omega-3 fatty acids. 

Most farmers will also tell you they’re richer in both taste and colour, which is why we get our eggs from Homestead Farms. Since 1975 Homestead Farms has provided classic free-run and organic eggs from a farm collective in the Elmira and Milverton area. This means more brunch-time goodness is packed into every one of Daisy’s delicious breakfast sandwiches. 

It Reduces Your Carbon Footprint

You already know unnecessary air travel is bad for the planet and that walking or biking is better than driving. But, you can also lower your waste output by shopping locally. Buying from within your community reduces the amount of food that’s shipped in via plane, train, and  refrigerated trucks. 

Gemaro Bakery’s freshly hand-crafted artisan gluten-free bread is delivered straight from their ovens to our doorsteps. Baked from scratch to order with carefully selected, wholesome & local ingredients, all of Gemaro’s baked goods are natural & preservative-free!

It Promotes Individuality

Local shop owners often have a story to tell. No one starts a business without passion. Take David and Sarah of Genuine Tea - Lazy Daisy’s tea of choice and one of the best loose-leaf tea brands to specialize in ethically sourced, fair-trade teas in Canada. 

Together they spent nearly 5 years in Taiwan, studying Mandarin and discovering the wonders of hand-crafted artisan teas. After several visits to plantations across Asia, they returned to Canada with a wealth of tea knowledge and a simple dream - to share their love of tea and adventure with others. (my fave is their masala chai!)

It Supports Your Local Community

When you buy local, it stays local. This is one of the most important reasons to shop locally. Not only do you support that store financially, but you enable that store owner to give back to the community too. It’s cyclical! 

When you purchase at locally-owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses (like Lazy Daisy) often purchase from other local businesses, service providers, and farms, as well as hiring staff from the neighbourhood... It’s a win-win!

Our closest supplier, Sanagan’s Meat Locker, is a short walk next door. It’s where we buy our chicken and chorizo sausage (made with a special blend of spices exclusive to Daisy’s customers). A neighbourhood gem, Sanagan’s also sources its products from local farms, with an emphasis on hormone-free meats. 

Consistently voted among Toronto’s best butchers, you can try their homemade chorizo in our breakfast burrito, roasted chicken breast in a Farmer’s Club or tender chicken thighs on our Mother Clucker fried chicken sandwich.

You can also give love to local shops by leaving 5 Star reviews on Google or recommending them to friends on social or word of mouth.

Thanks for spreading the #locallove