Food
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rodsk...@phonecoop.coop
Aug 24, 2008, 8:03:12 PM8/24/08
to Shepton Green
This is a message I received recently, which should be of interest to
everyone who is concerned about local food - which is probably most of
us!
From carolin...@communityfood.plus.com Tue Aug 12 11:14:14 2008
Subject: Food co-ops
I am contacting you as a transition or sustainability group in
Somerset
- please could you forward this message to the key food people in
your
group.
I am working for Somerset Community Food on the Making Local Food
Work
(MLFW) project which aims to research the good practice of food co-
ops
in Somerset and contribute to a 'How to set up a food co-op' national
toolkit. (please visit http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/ for
more
info). Somerset is one of the hotspots in the UK for food co-ops with
18
active groups and others working to start up a project.
As part of MLFW I am working on behalf of food co-ops in Somerset to
raise their profile and develop links with other organisations that
could signpost people to, and promote food co-ops. I am also able to
advise on start-up; we have a local 'How to set up a food co-op'
resource. My work colleague Linda Hull is focussed upon distribution
and
volunteer support.
A food co-op is typically a group of people buying food collectively
in
their community. The produce is bought directly from a local farmer
or
wholesaler, it is then sorted and shared out by volunteers ready for
collection. Projects are not run as a business i.e. are 'not for
private
profit' and motivation is often based on the wider benefits of access
to
healthy food, protecting the environment and strengthening community.
There is real potential for supporting established food co-ops and/or
setting up a project as a transition / sustainability initiative.
There
are obviously a number of considerations and steps to take to ensure a
successful co-op, not least finding a local supplier and making sure
the
project will not affect other local food projects adversely.
The benefits to food co-op members are:
Good value food - members purchase produce at more affordable prices
(through buying in bulk and direct);
Fresh and healthy food - most co-ops offer fresh fruit and vegetables,
some offer eggs, meat or dried foods;
Local, seasonal food - co-op members learn more about what's in season
and where their food comes from.
Food co-ops are a great way of community members accessing local and
healthy food and meeting others in their community. They also provide
a
reliable income for local producers.
Please visit our website find out about food co-ops generally and to
locate your nearest projects:
http://www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk/?Sharing_%26amp%3B_Buying_Food
Finally just a reminder that there is a collaborative group
facilitated
by Somerset Community Food to involve local food groups and
sustainable/transition projects to share ideas and develop a Somerset-
wide local food bid. Please contact Sarah sanders-Jackson for more
details: sar...@onetel.com
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Lewis
Food Co-op Officer
Someset Community Food
Making Local Food Work
56-58 High Street
Glastonbury
BA6 9DY
01458 832 983
carolin...@communityfood.plus.com
www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk
everyone who is concerned about local food - which is probably most of
us!
From carolin...@communityfood.plus.com Tue Aug 12 11:14:14 2008
Subject: Food co-ops
I am contacting you as a transition or sustainability group in
Somerset
- please could you forward this message to the key food people in
your
group.
I am working for Somerset Community Food on the Making Local Food
Work
(MLFW) project which aims to research the good practice of food co-
ops
in Somerset and contribute to a 'How to set up a food co-op' national
toolkit. (please visit http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/ for
more
info). Somerset is one of the hotspots in the UK for food co-ops with
18
active groups and others working to start up a project.
As part of MLFW I am working on behalf of food co-ops in Somerset to
raise their profile and develop links with other organisations that
could signpost people to, and promote food co-ops. I am also able to
advise on start-up; we have a local 'How to set up a food co-op'
resource. My work colleague Linda Hull is focussed upon distribution
and
volunteer support.
A food co-op is typically a group of people buying food collectively
in
their community. The produce is bought directly from a local farmer
or
wholesaler, it is then sorted and shared out by volunteers ready for
collection. Projects are not run as a business i.e. are 'not for
private
profit' and motivation is often based on the wider benefits of access
to
healthy food, protecting the environment and strengthening community.
There is real potential for supporting established food co-ops and/or
setting up a project as a transition / sustainability initiative.
There
are obviously a number of considerations and steps to take to ensure a
successful co-op, not least finding a local supplier and making sure
the
project will not affect other local food projects adversely.
The benefits to food co-op members are:
Good value food - members purchase produce at more affordable prices
(through buying in bulk and direct);
Fresh and healthy food - most co-ops offer fresh fruit and vegetables,
some offer eggs, meat or dried foods;
Local, seasonal food - co-op members learn more about what's in season
and where their food comes from.
Food co-ops are a great way of community members accessing local and
healthy food and meeting others in their community. They also provide
a
reliable income for local producers.
Please visit our website find out about food co-ops generally and to
locate your nearest projects:
http://www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk/?Sharing_%26amp%3B_Buying_Food
Finally just a reminder that there is a collaborative group
facilitated
by Somerset Community Food to involve local food groups and
sustainable/transition projects to share ideas and develop a Somerset-
wide local food bid. Please contact Sarah sanders-Jackson for more
details: sar...@onetel.com
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Lewis
Food Co-op Officer
Someset Community Food
Making Local Food Work
56-58 High Street
Glastonbury
BA6 9DY
01458 832 983
carolin...@communityfood.plus.com
www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk
Rod
Sep 26, 2008, 6:49:11 PM9/26/08
to Shepton Green
On page 4 of the "Shepton Mallet Journal" of 25/09/08 there is an
article "Co-operative meeting". In it, Caroline Lewis announces the
relaunch of a food co-op in Hillmead. People are invited to the
Hillmead Community Hall between 10:30 and 11:30 next Thursday, October
2nd.
It would be great if one of us could go and make contact as this is
exactly the type of organisation Transition Shepton should be working
with.
On 25 Aug, 01:03, rodskin...@phonecoop.coop wrote:
> This is a message I received recently, which should be of interest to
> everyone who is concerned about local food - which is probably most of
> us!
>
> From caroline.le...@communityfood.plus.com Tue Aug 12 11:14:14 2008
> details: sara...@onetel.com
>
> www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk
article "Co-operative meeting". In it, Caroline Lewis announces the
relaunch of a food co-op in Hillmead. People are invited to the
Hillmead Community Hall between 10:30 and 11:30 next Thursday, October
2nd.
It would be great if one of us could go and make contact as this is
exactly the type of organisation Transition Shepton should be working
with.
On 25 Aug, 01:03, rodskin...@phonecoop.coop wrote:
> This is a message I received recently, which should be of interest to
> everyone who is concerned about local food - which is probably most of
> us!
>
>
> Subject: Food co-ops
>
> I am contacting you as a transition or sustainability group in
> Somerset
> - please could you forward this message to the key food people in
> your
> group.
>
> I am working for Somerset Community Food on the Making Local Food
> Work
> (MLFW) project which aims to research the good practice of food co-
> ops
> in Somerset and contribute to a 'How to set up a food co-op' national
> toolkit. (please visithttp://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/ for
> Subject: Food co-ops
>
> I am contacting you as a transition or sustainability group in
> Somerset
> - please could you forward this message to the key food people in
> your
> group.
>
> I am working for Somerset Community Food on the Making Local Food
> Work
> (MLFW) project which aims to research the good practice of food co-
> ops
> in Somerset and contribute to a 'How to set up a food co-op' national
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Caroline Lewis
>
> Food Co-op Officer
> Someset Community Food
> Making Local Food Work
> 56-58 High Street
> Glastonbury
> BA6 9DY
>
> 01458 832 983
>
> caroline.le...@communityfood.plus.com
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Caroline Lewis
>
> Food Co-op Officer
> Someset Community Food
> Making Local Food Work
> 56-58 High Street
> Glastonbury
> BA6 9DY
>
> 01458 832 983
>
>
> www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk
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