Veggie boxes help farm grow

FOODSHARE Bendigo has started a pilot program to test out a new fruit and veggie box offering.

With a subscription base of 11 to start, the group will be using customer experiences to help them create a sustainable fruit and veggie box service in the coming months.

Food-share recently began farming on Golden Gums farm in Strathfieldsaye as part of their Grow-Cook-Share Food Hub.

Bridget Bentley, the program’s community engagement manager said the aim of the new project was to increase access to local fresh produce across Bendigo.

Ms Bentley said the team at Foodshare were particularly interested in helping young people to engage with fresh food and farming processes.

“We also have two young people who are employed through the project for a period of 12 months,” she said.

“They are getting lots of hands-on experience and developing their skills in growing through the mentorship and training of Steve, who looks after the farm.”

Another part of the project is to make more culturally diverse foods available in the region.

“We’re looking to introduce some of those food types into our farm to grow what we can to help,” Ms Bentley said.

Foodshare identified the need for a greater variety of fresh produce throughout greater Bendigo by working with multicultural support agencies like LCMS and Regional Victorians of Colour.

The farm is tended by a small team of volunteers who are currently growing winter staples like beetroot, leek, and cauliflower.

Ms Bentley said the current fruit and veggie boxes were a way for Foodshare to trial getting their produce out into communities while growing income to support their projects.