A Dunedin church is determined to feed the masses by launching a fruit and vegetable-buying co-operative that will cost people just $3 a week. Dan Hutchinson investigates.
Anyone and everyone is being invited to join the Otago Healthy Living Trust's Fruit and Vege Co-op, which is being set up to help people cope with the cost of living.
Run by All Saints' Anglican Church, the co-operative aims to combine the buying power of a large group with volunteer labour to reduce costs and ensure no-one goes without good nutrition.
Fruit and Vege Co-op co-ordinator Nicki Wallis said the idea was modelled on the Fruit and Vege Co-op in Christchurch, which has 3000 people signed up to receive a pack of vegetables each week.
Mrs Wallis said the trust wanted to make a big impact on the lives of people in the community and there was nothing more important than enjoying good nutrition and taking pressure off people's household budgets each week.
They have the co-operation and help of produce wholesaler MG Marketing, which will provide produce at wholesale prices.
Mrs Wallis said they were now putting the word out to anyone who wanted to receive produce each week. They only needed 30 people before they could start buying by the crate.
The programme would be particularly useful for those on a low income, Mrs Wallis said.
However, she said they recognised middle-class families and people living alone could use a boost to the budget too, so there was no limit on who could sign up.
''It is for everybody. That is the really neat part about it. It is reaching the whole community.''
Mrs Wallis said MG Marketing was ''bending over backwards to help us'' and with the help of volunteers they should be able to provide fresh fruit and vegetables at about half the normal retail price.
People have the option of signing up for parcels of varying sizes depending on their living situation and need. A single person could receive a week's supply for $3, a couple's supply would cost $6 and a family of four could receive 8kg of produce for $12.
A standard pack would contain a selection of four types of vegetables and three fruits each week including the most popular vegetables, what was in season or on special. Potatoes were not included but could be bought separately.
Volunteers are being sought and churches or other social agencies to act as depots, so that the co-operative could expand throughout the whole city.
Depots will initially be set up at the All Saints' Church office in Cumberland St and at St Thomas' Church in Pine Hill.
To register, contact Nicki Wallis on 027 461-5469 or 488-2219 or email admin@allsaintsdn.org.nz to be sent a registration form.
