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SBS Australia
04-08-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Is this the solution for rising food shopping costs?
As the cost of fruit and vegetables sold at Australia's main supermarkets continue to increase, most households across the nation are feeling the pinch in their back pocket. In an effort to save money, many Australians are searching for shopping alternatives that exist outside the realm of the local supermarket. One of the fastest-growing alternatives is Box Divvy , a community-run social enterprise that launched in 2019 and now boasts 337 hubs across New South Wales and the ACT. Soon, the organisation will be launching in Victoria. So how does it work? Picture a neighbourhood co-op, powered by an app. Each hub — often run from a local garage or free community hall — brings together 15-40 households who pool their weekly fruit, vegetable and packaged grocery orders. Sometimes, the co-op is comprised of families and friends who know each other while other hubs are made up of local community members who are strangers but just want fresh, cheap produce. A Box Divvy 'hub'. Co-founder of Box Divvy, Anton van den Berg, explains that every week, the group puts in an order. Not everyone will get the exact food they want as orders are usually the result of a group consensus. But, for example, if enough people request bok choy, then bok choy gets ordered. The idea is about ordering produce in bulk and reaping the savings that result. A bulk delivery is sent to the hub, which is managed by someone in their neighbourhood who gets paid for their time and effort. Members then help to divide the produce up. 'On average, our food is cheaper than what's available in the supermarket," says van den Berg. Our apples are typically under $4 a kilo compared with $6 a kilo in supermarkets. Our oranges are $2 a kilo versus $5 a kilo. 'But it doesn't mean we are the cheapest on everything. Supermarkets tend to mark specific [singular] foods down like strawberries because that one item gets people through the door. On the other hand, [although our price of strawberries might be the same as a supermarket], our ones are better quality.' Two of three co-founders of Box Divvy: Jayne Travers-Drapes and Anton van den Berg. Van den Berg says that members can typically save around 30 percent, on average, across their total produce bill compared to supermarkets. 'We're also paying farmers up to 60 cents in the dollar for their produce. We believe that's sometimes double compared to what the supermarkets pay many farmers.' The kind of produce offered is also culturally diverse, reflecting consumer demand and the multicultural makeup of farmers. 'We usually offer a broad range of European, Arabic and Asian ingredients, which covers a lot of what many people tend to cook.' Cost and community benefits Box Divvy's efficiency lies in its streamlined logistics. Instead of packing individual orders, produce arrives in bulk and is divvied on-site. Beyond making food shopping cheaper however, Box Divvy is also creating community. 'Members say their social circles have expanded after joining a hub as they get to meet their neighbours and exchange recipes. It's said that most people join for the low price of quality produce and they stay for the food community.' The model also offers some health benefits. Research from Western Sydney University found absolute increases in the number of fruit and vegetable serves eaten per person, after joining Box Divvy. 'The percentage increase across all groups was around 30 per cent but much higher among those who were very food insecure. That's huge for household nutrition and long-term health.' Alternative solutions for the cost of living crisis Another supermarket alternative is a produce box. With this model, consumers go online to order a box full of fruits, vegetables and even meat individually from an organisation that works directly with farmers. Farmers Pick is one example of such a model. Boxes often utilise excess produce that supermarkets reject due to appearance, although they are of great quality. On their website, they state that their produce boxes are up to 30 per cent cheaper than the supermarkets. There's also the Sydney-based Organic Buyers Group , which was started in Randwick over 20 years ago by Danielle Northey. 'We're just a group of residents buying fresh organic produce direct from a wholesaler every week,' Northey explains. Operating from community halls and urban farms like Pocket City Farms, the group uses bulk ordering to bring down the cost of certified organic fruit and vegetables. Through membership, people gain access to organic fruit and vegetables without having to pay an additional mark-up for organic food. "We can absolutely guarantee that our organic food is the same price as buying non-organic fresh fruits and vegetables at the supermarket." The process is low-tech. Members pre-order and when the produce arrives, they help divvy it into baskets. Kids join in. Recipes are swapped. 'It's community-building at its finest. Everyone contributes a little bit in ordering or packing, so no one person gets burnt out. Northey estimates the price differentiation between organic food and non-organic may be around 20-60 per cent. "We do our price checks to make sure that we can deliver organic food, at non-organic prices. In doing so, we always come in at the same cost or slightly under the cost of non-organic fruit and vege from the supermarket. 'We're making organic accessible, without the plastic, the markup, or the food miles.' The food is not about perfect customisation. 'You get what you get – fresh and good value – and you don't get upset. Maybe one week you get bok choy instead of kale because that's what's available. This model of buying suits people who are flexible, adventurous in the kitchen, and excited to eat what's in season. One week, Northey got fresh fennel in her box — something she'd never buy herself. 'Another member suggested making fennel frond pesto. It was delicious, and my teenage kids loved it. There are also many people, especially those living in share houses, who often band together with neighbours and friends informally to take turns to do their produce shopping in bulk at Paddy's Markets in Flemington, which ends up not only saving money, but also time – as each person or household would only need to go do the shopping once every few weeks. It suits people who are flexible, adventurous in the kitchen, and excited to eat what's in season. 'Why battle crowded aisles and inflated prices when you could do your shop with friendly faces, fresh produce, and a sense of purpose?,' Northey asks. So next time you get bill shock at your local supermarket with organic or non-organic produce, just remember there may be other ways to shop. All you have to do is think alternatively and look around for a food group in your area.
Man of Many
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Man of Many
Forget Wine! This Country Town 3 Hours from Sydney is Hiding Some of the Country's Best Beers
I love the Central West of New South Wales. Whether you're talking about Mudgee or Orange, it's the perfect weekend away from Sydney. I've spent more time exploring the wineries in this part of the world than any other region in Australia! So when the folks at Mudgee tourism called up, I said, 'Have mercy! I can't drink any more wine,' which is a lie, but gets to the crux of what I'm talking about. I wanted to figure out what this country town was all about, if we forgot about the wine and food for a second, because we know it's good! I wanted to talk beer, so they gave me a hit list of breweries to check out. What I found was completely unexpected. Great people, great food, but the beers? On another level. Best Breweries in Mudgee at a Glance Highlights include the following options: Now you've read the highlights, let's check out the complete list. Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm We didn't expect to find some of the best beers we've ever tasted out of a small shed on the outskirts of Mudgee, but that's exactly what we had at Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm. Anton van den Berg and his wife, Amanda, waved goodbye to corporate life and retired to the country. However, Anton didn't just bring a pair of shiny, clean R.M. Williams boots with him. No, he brought more than 20 years of home and professional brewing experience, and that has translated into the best brewery in Mudgee. He built the biggest shed he was allowed, landscaped a beer garden, brought in a food truck, and brewed the beers that he always wanted to, his way. Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many There's a list of rotating beers that will make any beer lover weak at the knees. We tried them all, including the Aussie Lager, Hazy Pale Ale, West Coast IPA (7.2%), and Doughtnut Dreams Sour (7.1%) that reminded us of some of the beers we've had at One Drop Brewing Co in Botany. However, it was the Czech Pilsner and Vienna IPA that stole the show. You very rarely find these beers at craft breweries in Sydney, they're a real 'beer lovers' beer,' and they were simply outstanding! Options are available for non-beer drinkers, with a good selection of local wines, non-alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks, while the food is taken care of by an Asian fusion food truck, BAO2MI. Address: 713 Black Springs Rd, Mudgee NSW 2850 Hours: Fri 12-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm Phone: 0466 166 227 Hop & Clover at Clover Cellars | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many Hop & Clover at Clover Cellars Like Small Batch, Hop & Clover started life as a semi-retirement plan for founders Dave Henderson and Shiree Phillips. Henderson spent more than 25 years sailing with the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy as a Petty Officer and Marine Engineer. Now, he's turned his home brewing passion project into a business that's brewing some of the best beers in Mudgee. Dave is a Gypsy Brewer, which means he brews his beers using local equipment at an established location. We reckon that sounds like a great way to borrow your neighbours' tools and make a business out of it. Genius stuff! He's pouring an outstanding Australian Lager, Pacific Ale, Pale Ale, Irish Oatmeal Stout, and, if you're lucky on the day (and it's still in stock), there's a top-tier Amber Ale. Hop & Clover at Clover Cellars | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many Hop & Clover at Clover Cellars | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many Hop & Clover at Clover Cellars | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many Hop & Clover at Clover Cellars | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many Probably the best brewery to visit if you're not into beer (don't worry, there's plenty of beer), Hop & Clover is located at Clover Cellars, which means there's a large list of local wines, usually from wineries that don't have cellar doors. You'll also find a range of Dave's homemade gin, which is pretty special stuff in itself. Grab one of your favourite drinks and spend the afternoon in the garden with your family, pets, and there might even be a live local music event on if you've timed it right. It's one of those spots where the locals hang out, and that's always a good sign. Address: 68 Edgell Ln, Buckaroo NSW 2850 Hours: Fri & Sun 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Mon-Tues 11am-3pm Phone: 0481 948 355 Mudgee Brewing Co. | Image: Supplied / Mudgee Brewing Co. Mudgee Brewing Co. There's a special place in every beer lover's heart for a brew-pub, and Mudgee Brewing Co. hits the spot. This family-owned business was established in 2007 and is located in a 100-year-old building in the town centre of Mudgee. Grab a tasting paddle with a selection of their beers, including the Summer Pale Ale, Gold Lager, Pale Ale, Mudgee Mud, IPA, and Red IPA, and a meal from their menu (the burgers are very, very good) and spend the afternoon or evening with a group of your friends in the brew-pub. Keep an eye out for some special-edition beers while you're there. Address: 4 Church St, Mudgee NSW 2850 Hours: Wed-Thur 12-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm Phone: (02) 6372 6726 Three Tails Brewery and Smokehouse | Image: Supplied Three Tails Brewery and Smokehouse Yes, this is a brewery with a smokehouse. You can sit there and sip on more than 20 of the finest brews in all of Mudgee while devouring a platter of smoked meats that include brisket, pork, sausage, wings, ribs, tacos, and burgers, thanks to Smokin Bro & Co. We're not sure what heaven looks like, but it's something like this. If you're not in the mood for a monster meal, there's also lighter eats available for a casual weekend lunch with the family. Mick Ash, local farmer and owner of Three Tails Brewery, has built something special here. Address: 13A Lewis St, Mudgee NSW 2850 Hours: Wed-Thur 4-9pm, Fri-Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-7pm How We Chose This List The author of this article, Ben McKimm, visited every brewery on the list, spoke to the owners, and tried their beers! He's spent more weekends in Mudgee and Orange than he has with his family in the last few years, and he loves these two country towns specifically because of their wine and food. However, on this occasion, the folks at the tourism board put together an itinerary that looked away from the wine and towards the beers. Note that Ben chose not to rank the breweries, as each is unique in its own way. What he remembers most is that every brewery said the next brewery Ben was visiting was their favourite, which is typical Australian. We scratch each other's backs!
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands replace divisive Aussie product with NZ alternative: 'Should've changed earlier'
A major food delivery app is ditching a controversial Aussie product and switching to a New Zealand alternative. Box Divvy, which supplies close to 13,000 households with fresh produce, announced it will no longer be selling Tasmanian farmed salmon due to concerns about sustainability and transparency. It's been a horror month for the local salmon industry, with over 1 million dying following a bacterial outbreak, and pictures showing dead salmon rotting inside pens and washing up on beaches. The RSPCA has also dropped its accreditation of Huon, one of the three major companies that operate around the island state, due to ethical concerns over 'inhumane' handling of live, sick and injured fish. Box Divvy facilitates online sales of food co-ops across NSW and ACT, and markets itself to consumers who want to avoid the major supermarkets and support farmers. Co-founder Anton van den Berg told Yahoo News the company had been feeling 'uncomfortable' about the industry for years, and after suppliers visited salmon farms across the ditch it was impressed with their methods. 'The industry has been promising to improve its sustainability and impact on the environment but the reality has been it's not really happening,' he said. Related: Is farmed salmon safe to eat? Conservationists have long warned about the impact of the industry on Tasmania's waterways, and the potential for it to harm the state's clean, green food image. In Macquarie Harbour, on the west coast, the industry's impact on water quality has been directly linked to the near extinction of the native Maugean skate. Although Coles and Woolworths market salmon farmed in this area as 'sustainable'. In Australia, wild salmon is not widely available in stores because all commercial species are native to the Northern Hemisphere. Last week, Uni Melbourne aquaculture expert Professor Giovanni Turchini told Yahoo there are few environmental differences in the farming of salmon in Australia or New Zealand, both of which are locally available. 'They are fundamentally farmed in similar ways and fed with the same feed. But please note as usual, the environmental impact of any farm activity, including salmon, is fundamentally determined by how the farm is managed,' he said. Box Divvy's supplier was impressed with the sustainability focus of the specific farms in New Zealand it visited. Another factor it considered is that Monterey Bay Aquarium's internationally renowned Seafood Watch program recommends the product. Dropping Australian salmon, rather than slowly migrating away came with some risk, as the product had been its biggest seafood seller. But the decision proved to be immediately beneficial for its bottom line, indicating it was what its customers wanted. 'Our sales are up over 15 to 20 per cent even though the New Zealand product is slightly more expensive,' van den Berg said. ❌ Call for US tourist to 'leave' Australia after 'distressing' act with baby wombat 🐊 Aussie fisherman searches for three-metre crocodile after spear attack 🐣 Once common Aussie bird among 21 new species facing extinction Now that the company has moved away from Australian grown salmon, it's unlikely to buy it again without major change. Another factor informing its decision is that the major farming operations are now owned by large foreign companies. 'With hindsight we probably should have changed earlier,' he said. 'How they run the industry in the end is up to them. That's how the market functions. 'But if consumers are voting with their feet, then I think they're going to reach a point where they're going to have to decide what they're going to prioritise. If they're simply going to chase the dollar, then they might find in the long run, they are not going to have a viable business.' Industry peak body Salmon Tas declined to comment on Box Divvy's decision. In a statement released on social media overnight, Huon's general manager of stakeholder relations said the disease outbreak was unprecedented. 'It's really important to understand that this mortality is not caused by farming practices, it is the result of a disease outbreak,' she said. Addressing its loss of RSPCA accreditation, she said the incident was 'not reflective of the high standards' of which Huon usually operates. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
