Spread The Love: Why Daisy Orser of The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer is our jam.
Spread The Love: Why Daisy Orser of The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer is our jam.
Daisy Orser is totally our JAM.
At SaltSpring Kitchen Co., we believe in celebrating the passionate entrepreneurs who make our local food community thrive. Building a business on a small island makes it even more important to honour our connections. A lot of people have helped us get to where we are today.
In our latest "Spread The Love" feature, we're excited to introduce you to one of Melanie's long friends, Daisy Orser, from The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer in Victoria, BC.
The Root Cellar, A Family-Owned Victoria Green Grocer, Committed to Community
Daisy Orser's journey with The Root Cellar began in 2008 when she and her husband, Adam, opened their first store in Victoria. Their vision was to create a welcoming space that champions local produce and sustainable practices.
Today, you'll even find live music some afternoons while you shop. As a family-owned business, The Root Cellar has become a beloved fixture in the community. The Orsers have three boys, and all of them have worked at The Root Cellar over the years. Their oldest is currently on the crew in day-today operations.
From their early days of carrying the kids in slings on their backs to now seeing kids off to college and chaperoning basketball games across North America, the Orser family continues to work on the balance of working together as a family.
While you can sometimes find her working in The Potting Shed (the floral and garden market at their original McKenzie location), Daisy focuses now on marketing, development, and supporting the team. Her hand-written signs can be found throughout the stores, printed on jute bags and other "sassy swag." She still hand-writes a holiday card for every member of their team, now about 175 people across both locations.
Award-Winning Vancouver Island Green Grocer Success Story
"We wanted to build more than just a store," Daisy shares. "Our goal was to create a hub where local producers could showcase their products and where customers could connect with the source of their food."
"We share a lifelong love of fresh local food and sustainable food systems. Our two markets offer Vancouver Island's largest selection of locally grown, organic, and conventional produce. We also offer a full-service butcher and deli, artisanal grocery, dairy, bread, florist, garden market, cafe, and bulk foods departments."
The Root Cellar Expands to Cook Street Village
Recognizing the growing demand for local, high-quality groceries, Daisy and Adam expanded The Root Cellar by opening a second location in the fall of 2021 in Cook Street Village, in the old Oxford Foods location. This expansion allowed them to reach more customers while upholding the values that made the original store successful.
The Cook Street location (dubbed "City Mouse," while McKenzie got the nickname "Country Mouse") maintains the same commitment to local sourcing, offering a selection of fresh produce, artisanal goods, and sustainable products, complete with fresh flowers and their famous Green Sauce and Mean Sauce, recipes developed by Adam that quickly became a cult classic with locals (like, 83,000 containers sold in 2023!).
SaltSpring Kitchen Co. and The Root Cellar Partnership Supporting Local Businesses
The relationship between The Root Cellar and SaltSpring Kitchen Co. starts in our early days. Adam actually hired Melanie in Kelowna when the Orsers had just moved to the area. He came home from work and said "I think I hired you a friend today." They didn't know anyone yet, and it turned out Adam was very right. The four of them became close family friends.
Years later, Melanie and her husband Richard actually moved to Victoria because of the Orsers. Melanie started working at The Root Cellar, until she and Richard decided to move to Salt Spring Island when Richard took a job with BC Ferries.
Of course, once SaltSpring Kitchen Co. was launched back in 2012, The Root Cellar was one of our first retailers. Daisy and Melanie have a lot in common, and their friendship has grown alongside their businesses. Later, when one of Melanie's kids moved to Victoria for school, they also worked at The Root Cellar.
Daisy and Melanie's friendship exemplifies the cooperative spirit that fuels our local business ecosystem. They continuously support each other's ventures, whether it's through events, cross-promotions, or simply sharing advice and encouragement.
Melanie says "If you follow Daisy on Instagram, you'll see that she and the gang know how to build an epic charcuterie board, overflowing with fresh fruit and veg, obviously. We've seen catered events that didn't look as good as their movie nights with friends. Spotting our jars in the spread is always fun."
Supporting Vancouver Island Farmers and Artisans
The Root Cellar is renowned for supporting Vancouver Island farmers and artisans. The team curates their selection to include only the best local products. The Root Cellar offers diverse products celebrating the island's rich agricultural heritage, from fresh vegetables and fruits to handmade preserves and baked goods.
"Our farmers are the backbone of our community," Daisy explains. "By supporting them, we're providing our customers with exceptional products and fostering a sustainable and resilient local economy."
Community Engagement and Sustainability at The Root Cellar Victoria
Beyond her commitment to local sourcing, Daisy is invested in the Victoria community. The Root Cellar regularly participates in local events, sponsors community initiatives, and partners with other businesses to promote a vibrant, interconnected local economy.
You can even "Meet the Bees" at their flagship McKenzie location, where community members can learn about beekeeping and bees' vital role in our ecosystem. These events educate and strengthen the bond between The Root Cellar and its customers.
We don't know too many people who would have solar panels on a birthday wish list, but that's what Daisy got from Adam for her 40th. 90 solar panels on the roof of the McKenzie store.
The Root Cellar's Award-Winning Excellence in Victoria's Grocery Scene
Over the years, the store has garnered numerous awards recognizing its excellence in customer service, product selection, and commitment to sustainability. These accolades are a testament to Daisy's and the team's unwavering passion and the hard work of her entire team.
The Root Cellar's Community Initiatives in Victoria, BC
By actively giving back, the Orsers ensure that The Root Cellar remains a community pillar. Whether hosting educational events, supporting local charities, or collaborating with other businesses, The Root Cellar is dedicated to fostering a strong and supportive local network.
Rainbow Kitchen Partnership
Founded in 2010, Rainbow Kitchen is a family-friendly community kitchen that specializes in providing delicious meals and connecting the community to resources. Everyone welcome, no questions asked.
"They say ‘the way to the heart is through the stomach’... After all what is more nurturing than being fed? What is more satisfying than feeding those you care about? This act of eating + feeding is far more intimate than we acknowledge. So let's get real. FOOD IS LOVE." -- Daisy
A note from Daisy.
And while love is free, food is not. Food insecurity is abundant in our community, as high as 8% of our population. These hidden hungry are our neighbours, our colleagues, our classmates and our friends.
Today we're 12 years into a beautiful relationship that has resulted in over $100,000 being contributed and over 400,000 meals being created for the food insecure in our community. These numbers blow my mind and make my heart swell.
These efforts largely happen behind the scenes as core values of our business, but once a year we shine a big bright light on this relationship, in case you want to get in on the action.
All I want for Christmas is to max out this donation.
Future Plans for The Root Cellar, Continuing to Support Victoria's Local Producers
As The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer grows, Daisy remains dedicated to supporting local producers and serving the Victoria community.
"We're excited to see what the future holds," Daisy says. "With the continued support of our customers and partners, we can keep spreading the love for local food and sustainable living."
Collaborative Success, The Root Cellar and SaltSpring Kitchen's Co.'s Partnership in Victoria
Daisy Orser and The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer embody the spirit of collaboration and community that SaltSpring Kitchen Co. cherishes. Their support for local farmers and artisans enriches our local food scene. It strengthens the bonds that make our community unique. We're proud to call Daisy and The Root Cellar our jam, and we look forward to many more years of shared success and friendship.
If you're local, you have to check them out.
Visit McKenzie Corner at 1286 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC, call them at (250) 477-9495.
Visit Oxford Corner at 271 Cook St, Victoria, BC, call them at (778) 265-8166.
Visit their website at therootcellar.ca, join their email club to get weekly specials and recipes, or find them on Instagram at @rootcellar, and Daisy at @rootcellarbyday.
Love sassy swag? Shop online; they have some great bags, hats, and more.
ps. The Root Cellar stocks our entire collection, and we fully endorse the Green Sauce.
