Return of affordable produce

Keen to supply high-quality fruit and veges to the community at bargain prices are (from left) All Saints Fruit & Veges scheme committee member Julanne Clarke-Morris, volunteers Oak Roberts, and Paulette Milnes, committee member the Rev Ruth Doig, volunteers John Milnes and Tessa Campbell. PHOTO: BRENDA HARWOOD

All Saints Fruit & Veges scheme is under way for its 10th year in 2024, ready to supply top-quality fruit and veges at a time when households are battling rapidly rising food prices.

The scheme sells a broad range of fruit, vegetables and other produce at bargain prices, catering for hundreds of families across the city each Thursday with pre-ordered bags of produce.

Since All Saints Anglican Church founded the project in February, 2015, it has grown to include distribution centres in North East Valley, Caversham, Port Chalmers, Andersons Bay, Green Island, St Kilda and Blueskin Bay.

All Saints Fruit & Veges founding committee member Julanne Clarke-Morris said many of the scheme’s regular families had been excited by its return on February 8.

"People have been excited to see us up and running again — they are happy to have access to more affordable food again," Ms Clarke-Morris said.

Although the scheme’s customer base had dropped away over Christmas and New Year as usual, she expected things would soon be back in full swing.

"Since we got going again, we have already seen quite a few students, who have been very happy to get such a good deal on produce," she said.

"Since its inception, the philosophy of the All Saints Fruit & Veges scheme has been to help provide good-quality, fresh fruit and vegetables at the lowest possible cost.

"The scheme works to help counter the cost of living crisis, and to help ensure food security for people."

Ms Clarke-Morris said the food provided by the scheme was all of good quality, and most was bought from MG Marketing — the same wholesaler that provided produce to supermarkets.

Each week, the scheme’s fruit and vegetable buyer Cyrus Yam sourced local, seasonal produce from the market, which was then bagged up by a team of volunteers to fill orders for pick-up or distribution.

Ms Clarke-Morris said the scheme had also made community connections with Old Road eggs and honey producers, and Holy Cow milk.

These were also now available.

"We are very pleased that we have been able to increase the range of what we can provide to include the eggs, honey, and milk," she said.

The distribution centres are located at Caversham Presbyterian Church, Holy Cross Church (St Kilda), St Mark’s Church (Green Island), Blueskin Bay Library, Holy Trinity Church (Port Chalmers), St Martin’s Church (North East Valley), St Michael’s Church (Andersons Bay), and All Saints.

Customers pre-ordered by Monday and paid (online or with cash) for produce packs in three sizes — at a cost of $4 for a single, $7 for a couple, and $14 for a family pack — and the funds were used for the scheme’s weekly fruit and vegetable shop.

A sales table was also set up at All Saints’ hall, where people could browse and buy produce.

Prices for the scheme’s produce were well below that of supermarkets, partly because the scheme was a non-profit and run by volunteers, and also because of bulk-buy savings.

"The rising price of everything has impacted on us along with everyone else, but our volunteer-based model means we can still help people access produce at significantly lower cost — especially through our pre-ordered bags."

Ms Clarke-Morris said the All Saints Fruit & Veges scheme also worked in with several of the city’s foodbanks — the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, and Presbyterian Support Otago — to help them access low-cost fruit and veges for families in need. It also had strong connections to the Valley Project in North East Valley.

Ms Clarke-Morris said volunteers were vital to keep the All Saints Fruit & Veges scheme functioning successfully, and the committee was always looking for volunteers to help.

"We have lots of volunteer roles available, including fruit and vege packers willing to come in from 7.30am on a Thursday, as well as people to look after sales tables," she said.

"We would also love to find an experienced person to take on the role of packing manager."

The cheerful team of volunteers worked hard, but enjoyed a "lovely camaraderie" and made great friendships.

To sign up and order All Saints Fruit & Vege scheme produce, visit the website fruitveg@allsaintsdn.org.nz or on facebook dnfruitandveg, or phone the parish office on (03) 479-2212.

To inquire about volunteering, email allsaints.fruitveges@gmail.com, or phone (03) 479-2212.