"You, as a food buyer, have the distinct privilege of proactively participating in shaping the world your children will inherit."
The ancient Greek word oikos at its simplest level means household. It is where we get the prefix “eco-” in English which is used to form the words “economics” and “ecology.” The idea is that in order to have a prosperous economy and a healthy ecosystem, you have to have a healthy household.
When you look around the world today, you will see a lot of dysfunction in the area of families, economies, and the environment. We as a society have moved away from household scale economies, doing business and buying our food more and more from faceless transnational corporations who care for little more than the bottom line. We have placed our trust in large government entities to keep our food safe and the consequences are plain to see. Our food has become tainted with pesticides, herbicides, GMO’s, micro-plastics, and harmful pathogens leading to a national crisis of disease and lower fertility rates. There is no longer a trust, an accountability, between producer and consumer. That’s where buying clubs like Oikos come in…
Oikos is unique in that we are not a business, a store, or a shop. As a private membership-based association, members use their own funds to make purchases from local farmers. As a club, we use our collective buying power to negotiate wholesale prices from local farms, thus saving you time and money. We are a community of like-minded folks who connect you to the local, healthy, nutrient-dense food you want. We only source from farmers who are committed to the highest standards of organic, non-GMO, pasture-raised, and regenerative agricultural practices. You will see and taste the difference that shopping from our suppliers brings.
Our Vision
Local food freedom resulting in a resilient community and thriving economy for the families and farmers of SWFL.
Our Mission
To lead the way in the food freedom movement by providing the community of SWFL with access to real food that strengthens our local economy, families, and farmers.
Our Values
Food
Commitment to sourcing and producing the highest quality, healthiest food possible as locally as possible. The food we source will be: nutrient dense, ethically raised, organic, non-GMO, and sustainably / regeneratively grown local food.
Family
We are a community of like-minded consumers who desire the health and prosperity of each other and our families.
Farmers
Our farmers are our neighbors and belong to the Oikos community. We directly support these men and women with fair compensation for their efforts to grow high quality food in sustainable ways
Freedom
We are building an alternative system that gives our community more freedom of choice to purchase the food they want to eat from local, small-scale producers. Every time we support our farmers, we vote with our dollar towards a more resilient and safe food system.
Faith
We are a faith-based organization who believes in the God of the Bible. Thus, that book guides our fellowship with one another, our farmers, and the community at large.
