Fruit and veg co-ops

Following on from Thursday's theme of encouraging communities to grow their own fruit and veg, have you heard about fruit and veg co-ops? The BBC reported a story last month about the rise of these in Wales - there are now over 350.

Food co-ops work on the principal that food is cheaper when a lot of people buy it in bulk. Features that co-ops have in common are that they are run by the community for the same community, they sell food at affordable prices, do not make a profit and are run by volunteers. Small food co-ops take orders from customers, whereas others buy the food in and then sell it to customers from stalls. Exactly what they sell, when, how and where they sell it, varies from one co-op to another.

Food co-ops provide a lot of benefits. Not only do they increase people's chance to buy affordable produce, but in the process they can increase awareness of healthy eating. It brings opportunities to buy fruit and veg nearer to local people, making it easier for people without a car to shop on foot or by bike and some schemes deliver directly to customers. The environment also benefits, as like growing your own, you are using local produce, which is sold locally and there isn't the same level of packaging associated with fruit and veg that is often a consequence of that sold by supermarkets. Co-ops are another way to get people involved in their local communities, providing the opportunity to meet new people, which may lead to friendships and involvement in other activities locally. Food co-ops also benefit the local economy, as supporting local producers keeps money locally. Volunteers can gain skills from their experience, which can stand them in good stead in the job market; they can also gain confidence and feel that they have made a valuable contribution to their community.

More information about co-ops is provided by the following website http://www.sustainweb.org/foodcoops/. Take a look to see where your nearest fruit and veg co-op is. If there isn't one nearby and you feel inspired, it even provides information for how you can help set one up in your local area.


The BBC article on fruit and veg co-ops can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17938418

Photo by Zabdiel