To celebrate its first birthday, Carrick Greengrocers in Co Antrim is launching a ‘Friendly Food Club’ offering those on low incomes half-price fresh fruit and vegetables for the next 12 months.
Based in Carrickfergus town centre, the shop was set up last year as Northern Ireland’s very first community-owned greengrocers and now has 400 members.
The greengrocers raised over £34,000 through a community share offer to open the store on July 19, 2023.
An example of some locally grown produce
Lee Robb, one of the voluntary directors on the board of Carrick Greengrocers, has been part of the co-op since it was established last year.
“Having access to fresh, organically grown produce should be a fundamental human right, not a privilege,” she told the Belfast Telegraph.
“We observed a noticeable increase in people using emergency food providers in the local area to make ends meet and we wanted to offer a different approach to how food banks operate.
“There still is that stigma around using them and there are limitations to what they can provide, such as mostly dried or tinned food, which last longer but don’t offer those nutrients you need,” she added.
“Some people who maybe aren’t eligible for emergency food provision, and are also working, are still struggling to make ends meet and want to include healthy, organic food in their diet that won’t cost a fortune, so that’s where we come in.”
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The Carrickfergus pilot is part of the Bridging the Gap programme, a UK-wide initiative established to test ways in which communities can make climate-friendly food accessible to all.
The programme, which will work as a membership scheme, was co-designed with people who had experience of using emergency food providers in Carrickfergus and The Larder in east Belfast.
Lee said that the aim of the pilot scheme — and the reason the greengrocers was first established — was to introduce a “systemic change” in our food system.
“We want to help make longer-term changes in the system so that good food should not be seen as a privilege for those who can afford it, and so all people involved in the chain of produce are valued,” she said.
“If we can buy more organically grown food that supports small-scale growers as well, it’s a circular support system and everyone wins.
“Buying and supporting local also helps reduce carbon emissions, because people are getting access to fruit and vegetables which have been, quite literally, picked from the field only a few miles away on that day — not sitting in warehouses for weeks.”
One of the growers supporting the programme is Chris Dobbs, who owns a market garden in Carrickfergus which uses chemical free, no-dig methods.
He said that choosing a sustainable and healthy diet can not always be affordable for some people.
“What we want to do is make sure everyone accesses this good food, no matter their income,” he said.
“As a farmer, my aim is to grow crops that are rich in flavour and nutrients. Consumers are keen for a healthy and sustainable option but unfortunately it’s not always affordable.
“I’m particularly excited by this project, as it will allow more people to connect with healthy, local and sustainable food.”
Those interested in registering can call into the shop or email [email protected]
News Catch Up: Friday 19 July 2024