When you are filling your trolley with your favourite fruit and vegetables from the supermarket, do you ever wonder exactly how fresh they are and where they come from?
Well, there are a number of Surf Coast women asking these same questions.
Green Mums, a network of environmentally-orientated women are working to establish a “farm gate” fresh food cooperative to encourage healthier and more sustainable living in the Surf Coast region.
How will the initiative work?
The Green Mums initiative will develop a weekly collection of food from producers in the Surf Coast region which will then be sorted, packed and delivered to designated community pick up points by rostered cooperative members.
They have also applied for a grant from the Surf Coast Shire for additional support of this initiative.
How will the cooperative benefit our community?
This cooperative would allow regional farmers to distribute their produce fairly and provide opportunities for the community to buy locally sourced groceries.
Leanne Reinke, a member of the Green Mums group, said this initiative will be beneficial to both our health and the environment.
“This initiative will result in carbon emissions being reduced by people buying food that is not sourced interstate or overseas, families eating healthy, fresh food and community friendships being fostered,” she said.
Ms. Reinke also said the initiative would build a more locally-based and self-reliant food economy within the community.
“We want to pay a fair price for good food and local farmers need support and a fair and consistent return, so this initiative will deliver a sustainable and secure food future.”
Are there other regions which support similar initiatives?
Green Mums is drawing on the thriving Melbourne food network Ceres Fair Food, for inspiration.
Ceres Fair Food is a popular organic food delivery service which sources produce from local growers who are paid a fair price for their produce and also practice eco-friendly farming.
For more information, click here to see the Ceres Fair Food website.
On a global scale, trends suggest that consumers are increasingly looking to understand where their food comes from and exactly what goes into it.
“There is a growing international desire to be more sustainable and to live a healthier life, and a realisation that these two objectives complement each other.
“It is possible to have a much more tangible relationship with who is growing our food and changes inevitably ripple outward to our local community and ultimately impact globally,” said Ms. Reinke
How can I help?
Ms Reinke said anyone wanting to make a healthier change now has the ability.
“My advice when shopping would be to think when you shop- where it comes from, how it got here, how much packaging does it have, what was used to produce it, and say ‘no’ to plastic bags”
Those wishing to get involved or learn more about the cooperative can email Green Mums at vicsurf@bigpond.com , visit their blog http://greenmums3228.wordpress.com/ or Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/GreenMums-3228/159130697443346
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