Co-op’s proud farm-to-fork tradition isn’t just about feeding humans. Our much-loved feathered friends get their very own farm-to-feeder story with our comprehensive range of Canadian-sourced CO-OP® GOLD Bird Food!
If you're trying to brighten up your garden with colourful birdlife in the summer or attract your very own menagerie all year round, look no further than our locally grown bird food varieties that—unlike your feathered friends—have travelled only a short distance to get to you.
Farm-to-Feeder
Co-op remains committed to supporting local farmers, so all the seeds in our range of bird foods are sourced locally from long-standing Co-op supplier, Scoular. Scoular works directly with Manitoba-based H&M Farms, which grows sunflowers, supplying fresh Canadian-grown seeds for the bird food blends.
H&M Farms is a multi-generational operation. They grow about 900 acres of sunflowers annually, with much of the harvested seeds making their way into Co-op’s bird food.
Kyle Friesen, co-owner of H&M, takes pride in knowing his crops have a low-carbon impact.
“It’s nice to think that my family and friends and people in the community might be eating food grown on our farm,” said Friesen. “It’s a neat realization to see it coming full circle.”
“All ingredients from our mixes that can be grown in Canada are sourced from local growers,” noted Scott Reinke from Scoular.
Co-op has worked directly with Scoular for more than a decade, and this long-standing relationship has resulted in high-quality, traceable birdseed, so you know your bird food is the very best for your visiting beaks.
Seed All About It!
Feeding birds isn’t just a fun way to ensure a bustling and busy garden; it’s also a great way to protect birds from extreme weather and provide them with the fuel that they need to survive a Canadian winter—and we all know what that can be like!
“When working with Co-op on the formulation of the Bird Lover’s Medley Mix, we agreed that quality was a top priority,” said Reinke. “So you will find more of the ingredients that birds love inside every bag.”
Talk Birdy to Me
Co-op Gold Bird Food’s formulation is designed to keep birds happy and healthy. Each mix is designed with specific birds in mind, and the full lineup has enough options to attract whichever types of birds you wish.
If you’re wanting to attract smaller birds, try the Black Oil Sunflower Seed Mix, which is formulated for birds such as finches, siskins and northern cardinals. The Nyjer Seed Mix will attract beautiful chirpy goldfinches, as well as purple finches and house finches.
If you’re not sure which birds you want to flutter down into your tranquil outdoor space, then the Bird Lover’s Medley will do the trick with its versatile formula that’s perfect for all tree- and ground-feeding birds. Expect to see chickadees, sparrows and mourning doves!
Tip:Our friends at Scoular recommend using a feeder for these mixes with appropriately sized holes for the mix, allowing the feed to flow evenly at a controlled pace while discouraging other animals such as pesky squirrels from emptying it too quickly.
Make sure to try one of our Canadian-sourced Co-op Gold Bird Food blends for all your winged visitors!
