Latest News
Making Local Food Work partners Sustain have been busy creating a series of food co-op and buying group fact sheets in partnership with the Soil Association, which will be available to download from their website very soon and also in printed format. These are focussing on different settings for food co-ops including universities, schools, workplaces, children's centres and more. If you are interested in getting a copy of any of these please let us know foodcoops@sustainweb.org
We have also been updating the food co-ops finder database to make it easier for you to add a new food co-op or update your entry. If any of your food co-op's details have changed you just need to go to http://www.sustainweb.org/foodcoops/database/and enter your e-mail address to get a code to update your information on the food co-ops map. NB you have to enter the e-mail you used when you filled in the database.
Best wishes
Maresa
Food co-ops news
From the Ground Food Co-op was successfully launched on Saturday 13 March, providing nine families with fresh organic vegetables, fruit, cheese and eggs. Order pick up was in New Malden at Steph’s place, whose garage was temporarily converted into a food warehouse. Everything was packed, sorted and ready for customer pick up throughout the day. Although the food co-op currently has a limited number of members they are confident of its growth. The food co-op is part of the Transition Town group in Kingston. They offer their members both a pre-selected box of fruit or veg and the flexibility to choose from a supplemental list of items should the box not be desired.
Shoots Food Clubs were re-launched as New Shoots on Wednesday 24 March. It was a very successful day, with more than 70 new customers signing up. They now operate in the borough of Halton and have also developed several new satellite clubs in St Helens. They also have a fantastic new local supplier - 'Your Choice' who provide top quality produce at affordable prices which is mostly sourced from local farms within 25 miles of St Helens. Their friendly volunteers work really hard to provide a great 'not for profit' service within their communities. The Health Improvement Team, their partner organisation also helped them to expand into the borough of Halton with the development of a new food club at the Stadium in Central Widnes.
True Food Community Co-op in Reading is holding a launch event for its new shop on Saturday 15 May 2010 at 3pm. True Food, a volunteer run organisation, has been operating travelling food markets at community centres in the Reading area for over five years. These markets appeal to a broad spectrum of people who want access to high quality food at affordable prices. The opening of the shop marks the start of a new direction for True Food as it strives to foster closer links between the communities of Reading and the production of the food they consume. The mobile markets will continue to serve Reading South of the river and the shop will serve the communities North of the river. This launch event marks the first major milestone in a three year Lottery funded project to increase availability and access to high quality local produce. To find out more visit http://www.truefood.coop/
Inspired by a Transition Exeter initiative in March 2009, a dedicated group has been working to set up and open the Real Food store, bakery and café in Exeter city centre. Real Food in Exeter will be launching a community share issue in May. At this stage they need to raise approximately £150,000. Members of the community are invited to buy shares in Real Food with a minimum value of £100. Each investor, whatever the size of the investment, becomes a member of the company holding one share and with one vote. In much the same way as a community buys its pub or sets up its local shop and post office, investors in Real Food will be seeking a social as well as a financial return. Wessex Community Assets are advising Real Food throughout the process of launching and administering the share issue. To find out more visit their website http://realfoodexeter.co.uk/index.php
Regional events
As part of the Making Local Food Work programme Sustain's regional food co-op advisers are organising a series of events around the country for both existing food co-ops and groups interested in setting up a new food co-op. Many of these events are also being run in partnership with the organic buying groups team at the Soil Association. If you are a community group, producer, transition group, food social enterprise, existing food co-op, public health professional, or anyone else with an interest in community food, then come along and find out more.
We have been busy creating a series of food co-op and buying group fact sheets in partnership with the Soil Association, which will be available to download from our website very soon and also in printed format. These are focussing on different settings for food co-ops including universities, schools, workplaces, children's centres and more. If you are interested in getting a copy of any of these please let us know foodcoops@sustainweb.org
We have also been updating the food co-ops finder database to make it easier for you to add a new food co-op or update your entry. If any of your food co-op's details have changed you just need to go to http://www.sustainweb.org/foodcoops/database/and enter your e-mail address to get a code to update your information on the food co-ops map. NB you have to enter the e-mail you used when you filled in the database.
Best wishes
Maresa
Food co-ops news
From the Ground Food Co-op was successfully launched on Saturday 13 March, providing nine families with fresh organic vegetables, fruit, cheese and eggs. Order pick up was in New Malden at Steph’s place, whose garage was temporarily converted into a food warehouse. Everything was packed, sorted and ready for customer pick up throughout the day. Although the food co-op currently has a limited number of members they are confident of its growth. The food co-op is part of the Transition Town group in Kingston. They offer their members both a pre-selected box of fruit or veg and the flexibility to choose from a supplemental list of items should the box not be desired.
Shoots Food Clubs were re-launched as New Shoots on Wednesday 24 March. It was a very successful day, with more than 70 new customers signing up. They now operate in the borough of Halton and have also developed several new satellite clubs in St Helens. They also have a fantastic new local supplier - 'Your Choice' who provide top quality produce at affordable prices which is mostly sourced from local farms within 25 miles of St Helens. Their friendly volunteers work really hard to provide a great 'not for profit' service within their communities. The Health Improvement Team, their partner organisation also helped them to expand into the borough of Halton with the development of a new food club at the Stadium in Central Widnes.
True Food Community Co-op in Reading is holding a launch event for its new shop on Saturday 15 May 2010 at 3pm. True Food, a volunteer run organisation, has been operating travelling food markets at community centres in the Reading area for over five years. These markets appeal to a broad spectrum of people who want access to high quality food at affordable prices. The opening of the shop marks the start of a new direction for True Food as it strives to foster closer links between the communities of Reading and the production of the food they consume. The mobile markets will continue to serve Reading South of the river and the shop will serve the communities North of the river. This launch event marks the first major milestone in a three year Lottery funded project to increase availability and access to high quality local produce. To find out more visit http://www.truefood.coop/
Inspired by a Transition Exeter initiative in March 2009, a dedicated group has been working to set up and open the Real Food store, bakery and café in Exeter city centre. Real Food in Exeter will be launching a community share issue in May. At this stage they need to raise approximately £150,000. Members of the community are invited to buy shares in Real Food with a minimum value of £100. Each investor, whatever the size of the investment, becomes a member of the company holding one share and with one vote. In much the same way as a community buys its pub or sets up its local shop and post office, investors in Real Food will be seeking a social as well as a financial return. Wessex Community Assets are advising Real Food throughout the process of launching and administering the share issue. To find out more visit their website http://realfoodexeter.co.uk/index.php
Regional events
As part of the Making Local Food Work programme Sustain's regional food co-op advisers are organising a series of events around the country for both existing food co-ops and groups interested in setting up a new food co-op. Many of these events are also being run in partnership with the organic buying groups team at the Soil Association. If you are a community group, producer, transition group, food social enterprise, existing food co-op, public health professional, or anyone else with an interest in community food, then come along and find out more.
West Midlands Food co-ops and buying groups event
28 April 2010, 6 - 8.30pm at BVSC Digbeth, Birmingham
This event will explain how food co-ops and buying groups work and offer guidance on how to start a new group. There will be time for discussion and networking where you might find existing groups in your area, connect with suppliers or be inspired to start a new initiative. Please e-mail pete@sustainweb.org for more details or to book a place
North West Food co-ops networking event
25 June 2010 2 - 4.30pm at MERCi in Manchester
This will be a great opportunity to meet some of the other food co-ops in the region, and share skills and experience. There will be a chance to have a look round one of Herbie's mobile delivery vans a marketing workshop and cake. Please e-mail ruth@sustainweb.org for more details or to book a place
Skillshare study visits
The Plunkett Foundation, through the Making Local Food Work programme, is running a fully funded study visits programme for community owned food organisations to visit and learn from each other.The programme is open to applications from 1st March 2010 for visits scheduled between April 2010 and March 2011. A Skillshare study visit will usually include a presentation, discussion and exchange of ideas, and an opportunity to speak to other staff and volunteers. Visiting organisations can either apply for £175.00 to cover the cost of a visit to an organisation known to them, or one recommended by the Plunkett Foundation. Host organisations will also be awarded a flat fee of £300.00.To apply or find out more information, please visit http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/about/Enterprise_Support.cfm for an application form or call 01993 810730.
Real Bread Campaign update
As a result of the Real Bread conference True Food Co-op are now selling 90 loaves of Real Bread a week, which probably equates to about 200 customers a month; these numbers are growing week on week. Before the Real Bread campaign about 90% of the bread True Food sold was ‘unreal’ as it contained flour improvers but they have changed bakers and now have two, The Natural bread company (Wantage) and Brown Sugar (Stoke Row), and 100% of their bread is real with the vast majority of it meeting the Real Bread Campaign's gold standard (Water + flour + salt). The Real Bread campaign can help to link up more food co-ops with bakers so if you are interested in buying Real Bread please contact chris@sustainweb.org To find out more visit the website http://www.realbreadcampaign.co.uk
Join our Facebook group
Like the rest of the world we have now joined Facebook, as it is a good way for us to provide up-to-date news on upcoming events, funding, new resources, etc. and also to find out what food co-ops around the country are up to. There is also a discussion forum which can be used to post queries. To become a fan just go to http://www.facebook.com/foodcoops and please help us by promoting the page to your friends. You can also follow other food co-ops on Facebook including Soundbites Derby, Hungry Snail Food Co-op, The People's Supermarket, Vibrant Harvest Box Scheme and more. If you are not signed up to Facebook you can still see all our latest news on our website http://www.foodcoops.org
Funding news
Vegware gives direct support to non-profit groups through the Vegware Community Fund. Organisations that promote sustainability in the widest sense can apply for individual grants of £20-200 per month. The fund is intended to contribute to core running costs and act as a basis from which to either focus on their chosen task, or apply for project grants. The grant is for groups involved in enhancing any aspect of their local environment, whether built or natural, or involved in community projects - so may be suitable for food co-ops. NB groups need to have been up and running for at least 12 months and they require a monthly bulletin to be provided to be published on their website, which also works to raise awareness of the project/organisation. To find out more visit http://www.vegware.com/community-fund/info_21.html
A PDF of the newsletter is available at http://www.sustainweb.org/pdf2/FoodCo-opsNewsletter_Issue10.doc
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