As interest in organic produce continues to grow, the Organic Buyers Group Hub in Lane Cove is bringing a different way to access fresh food close to home.
Volunteers enter one by one, conversations flow through the room as fresh fruits and vegetables are divided into baskets, ready to make their way home.
According to Lin, the general coordinator of the Lane Cove Organic Buyers Group Hub, the experience is about more than simply sorting and packing produce. It is also about the sense of community.
“You get to see, it’s such a good vibe. Everyone is coming in, everyone is helping,” Lin said.
The Organic Buyers Group Hub in Lane Cove is a volunteer-run group that helps local communities buy 100% certified organic fruit and vegetables at wholesale prices. Each week, produce is ordered in bulk from an organic wholesaler and delivered straight from the market to ensure freshness.
Rather than simply collecting their produce, members are encouraged to get involved by helping distribute the food equally.
“I think that’s really [what] Organic Buyers Group Hub is about,” Lin said. “It’s really like bringing the community together.”
Compared with organic produce at supermarkets, Lin says the Hub aims to reduce its environmental impact by limiting the use of plastic packaging.
“When we divvy, everyone brings their own bag. It’s basically package free,” Lin said.
For those interested in ordering, a trial box costs $52. For members, it costs $46. Membership is $45 per year, discounted to $10 per year for low-income families to help ensure everyone has access to organic produce.
Collection takes place on Mondays at 5pm. Sorting and packing the organic produce into boxes takes less than 20 minutes, with members also discussing recipes and connecting with one another.
No week is the same, as the produce depends on what is in season and offers good value.
Lin helped establish the Lane Cove Hub, which officially opened in August. She says the initiative has helped her build connections with other residents.
“After the launch meeting, I already started running into people on the bus… It’s just very nice. Like people running into each other in the same community all the time,” Lin said.
Besides providing social connections, the Hub ensures members have fresh produce waiting for them each week.
“You don’t have to worry about shopping and then you know on Monday you will have amazing fresh fruit and veggies,” Lin said.
For more information, visit the Lane Cove Organic Buyers Group Hub website.
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