A not-for-profit fruit and vegetable-buying initiative is back in Dunedin for a second year and looking to build on its success.
After announcing in The Star in February last year its plan to provide packs of fruit and vegetables for just $3 each, All Saints' Fruit & Veges was inundated with expressions of interest from the public.
Spokesman David McKenzie said 585 people had received packs at some stage throughout the year, although numbers varied each week.
‘‘We've had 10 new sign-ups already this year,'' Mr McKenzie said.‘‘We're going to do a push this year, in Orientation Week, to let the students know this service is available.
‘‘Last year we had a few parents sign their kids' flats up to help them eat fruit and vegetables.''
He estimated that more than 9000 fruit and vegetable packs had been delivered during the 35 weeks the programme ran last year.
The service, run by All Saints Anglican Church in Cumberland St, started with distribution centres in central Dunedin, Northeast Valley and Pine Hill. It has now opened new centres in Caversham, Mosgiel, St Kilda and Green Island.
‘‘There are people in all those areas for whom it is easier to access fruit and vegetables - which is what we set out to do.''
All Saints' Fruit & Veges customer Carl Scott said he had really appreciated the service.
‘‘In a time of my life when I have been in poor health and on a low income it has helped me enormously,'' Mr Scott said.‘‘I am grateful to everyone who has helped make it happen.''
All Saints' Fruit & Veges buyer Julanne Clarke-Morris, who is responsible for buying the fruit and vegetables that are sorted into packs and distributed each week, said affordability was a key issue when buying produce.
‘‘I look for variety and a mix of staples and the odd interesting thing. Affordability is the make or break factor - it's very seasonal and we prefer local,'' she said.‘‘I'm a mother and I cook for a family of five every day, so I have an idea in mind of the volume you might need in a week.''
When buying the produce she took into account the feedback the group received from customers on its Facebook page.
All Saints' Fruit and Veges committee member Cynthia Greensill said this year the group was aiming to improve its sustainability.
‘‘We want to reduce the amount of plastic being used so we are collecting re-usable cotton bags that customers can bring back and use each week.
‘‘We have about 500 at the moment and we are negotiating for more.''
The initiative resumed on Thursday after taking a break for Christmas and New Year, and 203 people have signed up.
For more information or to sign up go to www.fruitvege. allsaintsdn.org.nz.
- by David Beck