Transcript Slide 1

How to start your own
organic fruit and vegie co-op
WELCOME
Kim 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
boxesininback
backofofcar)
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 Association
4) 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!
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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