CONSUMER Affairs Victoria have accepted proposed rules for the formation of new food Co-op.
Out of the Box Sunraysia is a subscription-based operation providing a box of 100 per cent local and fresh produce on a weekly basis, initially started on a three-month trial in May 2017.
“It all started from a community meeting where someone arrived from out of town who had grown up in a place that had an organic veggie box scheme,” co-founder Deborah Bogenhuber said.
“We ended up putting the idea out there and had enough interest to try and give it a go, and now we have about 60 boxes a week with a lot of long term weekly subscribers.”
The model of the operation and the future co-op has been designed around providing community members with access to local products while also ensuring a fair return to farmers and producers.
Free range eggs from Benetook Farm, Fernhaven Estate Olive Oil, Murray Darling Basin honey, Murray River Salt, and loaves from Red Cliff’s based Gio’s Bread are also available along with fresh fruit and vegetables.
“Less than one per cent of our turnover is spent on packaging, we don’t use plastic only paper and compostable bags, and our customers are encouraged to bring boxes back so they keep getting reused,” Ms Bogenhuber said.
“We guarantee a minimum of 50 per cent return of the box price, and those prices are negotiated with the farmers at the beginning of the season to make sure it’s a manageable deal for everyone.
“The vision for the co-op is really ambitious but we want to create a community place that brings people together, all focused on building a healthy community around food.”
Anyone interested in being part of the new organisation’s board is encouraged to self-nominate by emailing outoftheboxsunraysia@gmail.com, with a formation meeting to be held on Saturday, March 29.
