The Local Veg Box

The Local Veg Box is an independent social enterprise committed to
providing fresh, affordable, vibrant veg to the residents of South
Manchester.

The Local Veg Box is an independent social enterprise committed to providing fresh, affordable, vibrant veg to the residents of South Manchester. All of our produce is sourced from reputable local suppliers and delivered directly to your door - so, when choosing us you can be confident that you'll always have access to tasty, nutritious food that doesn't break the bank - with the assurance that every pound you spend benefits your local economy.

WE AIM TO
Provide an inexpensive and convenient alternative to the large supermarket chains - so that we can pass on benefits to you, the customer - whilst supporting your local community and the environment, by minimising transportation from farm to fork.

WHO WE ARE
The seeds of The Local Veg Box scheme were sown in November 2012, when our team (Phil Collier, Mark Flynn and Dave Schofield) struck upon the idea that we could supply cheaper food to our friends by buying in bulk, directly from local suppliers. At the time we were living together in a property supported by Sustainable Housing (see "Contact" page for link) - a project encouraging people to live in a more co-operative and environmentally sound fashion. After several months cultivating relationships with suppliers at a nearby Manchester market, the concept of the social enterprise began to take shape. The business was legally formed in April 2014 and has been growing steadily ever since.

Sustainability lies at the heart of everything we do here at The Local Veg Box – we aim to foster bonds of friendship within our local community, reduce the impact we have on our environment and promote healthy eating practices in order to invigorate the lives of South Manchester's residents. Aside from the veg box, we are actively involved in several other projects and businesses spread across the Manchester area – see the "Contact" page for more information.

WHAT WE ARE NOT
We are NOT an 'organic' box scheme. This is not because we do not believe in the benefits of eating organic food, but simply because we recognise the restrictions that 'organic' certification (which requires suppliers to meet a highly specific set of criteria in order to qualify) places on affordability for growers and customers. We do, however, strive to source produce that is free from chemicals wherever possible, in order to simulate the nutritional benefits provided by food baring the Organic label.

We believe that in order to encourage people to eat more healthily, they need to be given access to superior alternatives that they can afford – and for a great many people at present, that means costs must be kept to an absolute minimum. We believe that by focusing on LOCAL food production and consumption first (supporting local economies), producing food using organic methods will become increasingly affordable for growers – encouraging farmers and smallholders to adopt more sustainable and healthy production practices in the long run.

OUR SOCIAL AIMS

THE PREVENTION AND RELIEF OF POVERTY
We aim to both prevent and relieve poverty (specifically food poverty), by providing access to healthy, affordable food.

THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION
We aim to develop skills and understanding surrounding the social, economic and environmental benefits of local, seasonal eating on an individual, community and societal level.

THE ADVANCEMENT OF CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
We aim to improve local infrastructure by creating socially, economically and environmentally beneficial food distribution channels that encourage and promote the value of community, whilst also providing access to employment and volunteering opportunities.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT
We aim to conserve the environment by providing access to locally produced food (reducing the necessity for excessive fuel consumption) and by promoting recycling practices, whilst discouraging unnecessary food waste and adhering to sustainable waste management practices.