How to start your own organic fruit and vegie co-op

WELCOMEKim Cornford & Neesh Wray

PART 1: What is a Fruit & Vegie Co-op?

An alternative way of purchasing and distributing organic fruit & vegies

It’s about… Affordable organic produce Encouraging the consumption of organics Local Community connections

A week in the life of the WOC…A week in the life of the WOC…

…$20 to Frank’s house by 5pm Tuesday – no money, no box!

Frank is our friendly Accounts Officer. He collates orders for the week and makes up list and receipts*

… 6am Friday morning, our buyers pick up the list and money from Frank’s front door and head to the wholesale markets in Footscray to buy fruit & veg…

…buyers drop off produce at 7.15am to the house of the person rostered for sorting that week…

(of boxes in back of car)( boxes in back of car)

… 7.45am sorters gather and sort fruit & veg between boxes, and then divide up the boxes and set off for delivery…

… Happy WOCer receives beaut box of fruit & veg!

(photo of happy WOCer)

A BIT MORE OF THE DETAIL…

• The WOC box costs $20 per week.

• In the box is roughly 3-4 fruit and 3-4 vegies. Staples purchased regularly*.

• Mostly seasonal produce.

• Everyone participates in the roster, usually sorting and delivering fruit & vegetables once per month*.

• WOC has a membership cap of 25 households. (ave. 18 h/holds purchase each week*)

“What does ‘Collective’ mean?

The WOC is not a service or company, but a collective. This means all members participate in the running of the WOC’s activities. It functions through everyone’s contribution.”

This philosophy underpins the success of the collective.

What else does the WOC do?• Organic

bread weekly

• Fairtrade Coffee & Tea

• Seasonal Gatherings

• Quarterly Dry Goods*

Quarterly Dry Goods Distribution…

Setting up a co-op is easy

1) Organise a meeting & publicise

2) Nominate committee

3) Form an Incorporated Association4) Bank account / ABN / Market buyers passes

5) Sign up meeting & organise roster

6) Celebrate and enjoy!

Initial meetings

• Publicise through local networks - leaflets, mother/father groups, schools, community groups (house / community space)

• Socialise from the beginning – share food• Agenda (take minutes) –

– Purchasing options (CERES, Melbourne Markets, Grasslands)– Fruit/veg, bread, dry goods (later), social aspect– Commitment (committee, buyer, sorter), annual membership,

AGM– Logistics (sorting houses, boundaries, pick up pockets, car size,

optimum co-op size – 12 to 24/25)– Committee descriptions – elect committee– Link to existing collective (join sorts or buys or meetings)– Draw on collective strengths (design, IT, finance)

Locality specific:

scan map 42 with houses marked

1km

Nominate committee

• 6 committee roles (for inc.) – President– Vice president– Secretary– Treasurer– Accounts officer– Dry goods officer/s

CORE drivers of initial establishment (monthly meetings become 2-3 monthly meetings)

Incorporation

• Consumer Affairs Victoria – www.consumer.gov.au (Associations, Clubs & Fundraising)

• Unique organisation name (Collective)

• Aims/objectives/statement of purpose

• Rules: model rules (or write your own $$)

• Fee: $53.80 initial lodgement + $55.10 (model rules).

Statement of purpose

Affordable organic produce Encouraging the consumption of organics Local Community connections

Bank Account / ABN / Market buyers passes

• Bendigo Bank Clubs account

• ABN: www.abr.gov.au (non-profit = tax exempt)

• Buyers pass: Melbourne Markets – www.melbournemarkets.com.au/services_access.asp $18 each (+ training, jackets)

• Biodynamic Marketing: www.demeter.org.au

• Purebread Bakery (Terry): 9836 3789

Sign up and START!

• Membership forms & fee ($40/$50 per year – covers market parking $800+)

• Roster (secretary)

• Yahoo groups / google groups?

• 6 months of ironing

Celebrate!• Communal sorts – everybody in

• The joy of Fridays

Thanks!

• WOC (Western – Footscray)• SOC (Seddon)

• NOC (Newport)

• KOG (Kingsville)

• YOC (Yarraville)- beginning in March …

Notes

• Buyers pick up bread too? • 3-4 fruit and veg (heaps more in summer?) – we

certainly do (5-6). Range usually includes one type of onion (spring, brown, leek), greens, root veg, salad veg, etc?

• Committee & roles - neesh• PICs – neesh/kim add• Extra statement of purpose – neesh add• Bank – neesh confirm