Around the world, a movement is growing to establish access to sustainable, seasonal and organic food systems.

Food Connect, an Australian initiative, was established to challenge conventional, profit-driven food supply systems.

Coles and Woolworths are dominating Australia’s food supplies, controlling close to 80% of the market. So it’s invigorating to see an organisation that is hoping to challenge the the duopoly.

Food Connect sources the highest quality, locally produced, seasonal organic food available, and then distributes it to their database of subscribers. They do this by teaming up with local farmers (the majority of produce comes from farms within the Sydney Basin) and Sydney-siders (aka ‘City Cousins’) who act as drop off and pick up points for the weekly fruit and veg boxes put together in the Food Connect warehouse in Rozelle.

What really stands out about Food Connect is their inclusive and socially minded approach to food – its not only about the produce and the food, it’s about what the food can do to establish strong communities have a positive impact on people’s lives.

When subscribers pick up their produce box from one of the City Cousin pick up spots, there’s an opportunity to mingle with like-minded people, share information and build relationships. It’s part of a broader aim to nurture community.

The City Cousins model also drastically reduced the food miles and the carbon footprints associated with mainstream and supermarket channels of food distribution.

Instead of being solely profit driven, this wonderful organisation is paying farmers fairly (40c out of each $1 of purchased produce), reducing environmental impact by sourcing produce locally and seasonally, and focusing their profits on feeding Sydney’s less fortunate through wholesale donations to other charities.

While Food Connect may not be able to do in numbers what Coles and Woolies do, they make up for in the thought process and belief system that underlies their business model and actions.

Food Connect operate in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane and you can see what will be filling this week’s produce box on their website.

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About the author

Lara Ihnatowicz

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