A food co-op is a simple system through which
customers access fresh fruit, salad and vegetables on a weekly basis
at wholesale prices. Local produce is accessed as much as possible,
quality and price permitting. Some farmers supply direct to co-ops.
The co-ops provide “bags” of fruit, vegetables or salad
to customers at a fixed price. The supplier chooses the selection
of fruit and vegetables according to what is in season and what offers
best value for money that particular week. The supplier delivers the
produce, in bulk, to the co-op. Customers order and pay in advance
so there is no wastage. The co-op makes no profit and all the money
taken goes directly to the supplier. Cash is paid on delivery.
The RRU have helped set up and support over 180 community
food co-ops across Wales and it is expected that this figure will
more than double during the next three years.
Success stories have sprung up all over Wales. Here
are just a few:
Husons Farm Produce,
Hawarden
Husons is a 14-acre, family run, mixed farm in Hawarden, Flintshire.
They follow “old fashioned” principles with minimum
use of pesticides. In 2005 they took over supply to three food co-ops
and now supply approximately 40 throughout the North Wales area.
Alan Huson remembers his grandfather predicting that, one day, there
would be a return to the “ancient”, almost forgotten,
methods of farming combined with supplying locally.
Alan says that “Supplying in bulk direct
to individual co-ops cuts out the middleman so that we all feel
the financial benefits. I enjoy selling direct to the public. The
feedback is very satisfying. I believe that the co-op volunteers
and customers like to deal direct with a grower too”.
Food co-ops now represent approximately 50%
of Huson’s business. Alan and his family plan their planting
according to the demand of the co-ops. As a result of the co-ops,
they have big expansion plans, which will help them to supply more
of their own grown produce in future.
Alan says “By ‘keeping it local’
I feel that I am ‘doing my bit’ for the local economy,
while also promoting healthy eating. We believe supplying co-ops
could work for any family farm that has easy access to the market
and is not afraid of hard work.”
Cae’r Melwr
Farm, Llanrwst
Alwyn and Emyr Hughes have farmed in the Llanrwst area, in the Conwy
Valley, for generations. They are keen to meet the changing demands
of local customers and are considering various diversifications
including a free-range poultry flock and a farm shop. They grow
a range of fruit and vegetables but do not have the manpower or
vehicles to deliver direct to local food co-ops. Instead, they supply
Dave Clampitt, a local fruit and vegetable wholesaler in Llanrwst,
and he delivers their produce, combined with his own, to five co-ops
in Conwy and Gwynedd. By working together in this way locally grown
potatoes, sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, carrots, curly kale,
broccoli, spinach, courgettes and broad beans have been eaten and
enjoyed by local people. 75% of the vegetables and salad currently
supplied to the co-ops is grown locally.
Gower farmer supplies
school co-ops
Brian Jeffreys grows a wide range of vegetables on his farm in Llanrhidian
on the Gower. He supplies co-ops at several primary schools in the
Swansea area. Pupils, usually from years 4 and 5, run these co-ops
as business enterprises. Head teachers encourage this as it meets
many of the requirements of the national curriculum and the key
stage assessments. Brian also buys from neighbouring farmers so
that as much local produce as possible goes to the co-ops. Pupils
like to see where their food has come from and Brian has hosted
many a school visit. Brian has also helped the RRU in the production
of a DVD to promote school based food co-ops.
Local produce
in Welshpool area
Pam Weston runs Powis Fruit & Veg and, for a number of years,
has held a market stall in Welshpool. She has recently started to
supply four co-ops in Welshpool and the surrounding area. Pam grows
between 40% and 60% of the vegetables she supplies and also sources
from other local growers. Pam likes to stay and help the co-op volunteers
bag the produce when she has time as she says she gets to hear of
any problems first hand. Needless to say, these are few and far
between. Pam says “I like to work with the co-ops because
they order and pay in advance so I know exactly what to harvest
and buy in, as opposed to being on the market stall, when I hope
customers will turn up and buy”.
From livestock to vegetables
Emlyn Williams, of 160-acre Garth Farm, Llandudno Junction, has
switched from dairy farming to growing vegetables on his land. His
Holstein-Friesian herd was making a loss so, with advice from the
new Farming Connect scheme and ADAS, Emlyn made the change. He now
produces sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers and seed potatoes. Emlyn
says “I’m sure most people round here want something
straight off the field from here in North Wales”. It is hoped
that Emlyn, and other farmers switching to horticulture, will be
interested in supplying local food co-ops.
Any growers, or wholesalers, interested in developing
links with community food co-ops should contact:
Mark Jones – Welsh Produce Manager for the RRU
01492 660263 or 07733 036585
email: mark.jones@rru.org.uk
