Sustainable Food Procurement Initative - Organic producers co-op formed - Eostre Organics Ltd and East Anglia Food Links Eostre Organics Co-op
Case Study: Eostre Organics Co-op
Region: East Anglia
Organisation: East Anglia Food Links - The organisation is Eostre Organics Ltd
Description:
Eostre Organics is a new organic producer co-operative that supplies high quality, fresh and processed organic food direct from their members in East Anglia. The co-operative favours local and seasonal produce, but, through partnerships with growers and co-operatives in other parts of the UK and Europe, such as El Tamiso, they are able to offer a complete range of organic food. They are currently supplying local school tuck shops and an environmental education centre. They are already supplying into the local hospital (Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital) albeit only into the staff and visitor restaurant, they also supply into two schools, (one in Notts and one in London) on either a part or whole menu basis, and are exploring the opportunity to supply produce for more schools and hospitals.
Benefits
- Provide the highest quality seasonal produce at fair prices for the producer and consumer, to enable consumers of all incomes to have the best food the earth can offer.
- Source all produce from other UK and European regions from socially responsible producers and co-ops actively promoting local, direct and co-operative marketing. Outside Europe we seek to work with Fair Trade producers,
- Favour local, seasonal produce, supplemented by products from known co-operative sources. Any imports are intended to complement not replace local produce and to offer a complete organic alternative.
- Minimise packaging, waste and transport, by ensuring the freshness of produce, minimising the distances food travels and cutting out intermediaries.
- Offer farm visits, educational and practical information to raise awareness of the environmental and social advantages of organic seasonal and fairly traded food.
Lessons learned during implementation
- The co-operative was set up by East Anglia Food Links through the Organics East Project, which received funding support from Defra through the Rural Enterprise Scheme.
- It forms a direct link between the producers and the consumers, supporting local, direct and co-operative markets and offering fairer prices to both the producer and consumer.
- Educationally they are pioneering this area through supplies to Stibbington Centre for Environmental Education in Cambridgeshire, with parallel development of educational materials to promote healthy eating and an understanding of sustainable food production.
- Eostre Organics is also supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to two schools for their tuck shops as part of a drive to encourage children to eat healthier snacks. The schools have now banned crisps and chocolates and as part of the 5 a day health programme, have introduced fresh apples, oranges, bananas and carrots etc.
-
Eostre Organics believes that a fair, ecological and cooperative food system is vital for the future of farming, the environment and a healthy society. Direct, open relationships between producers and consumers build bridges between communities in towns, rural areas and other countries, creating a global network of communities, not a globalised food system of isolated individuals.
Future developments
In addition to supplying the markets, box schemes and independent retail sector, Eostre Organics is working closely with East Anglia Food Link to develop and assist sustainable food procurement in the public sector.
Eostre Organics hopes to extend the fruit for tuck shops scheme to at least three other primary schools in the area. In addition they are working with Norfolk County Council to identify ways in which they could supply produce for school meals, and with the NHS to explore supplying local hospitals.
Further information
Website: www.eostreorganics.co.uk
E-mail: dot.bane@eostreorganics.co.uk
Dot Bane, Project and Development Manager, Eostre Organics, Walnut Tree
Farm, 45, Bunwell Street, nr Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 1SR
Tel: 01953 789639
Nick Saltmarsh, East Anglia Food Link, 49a High Street, Watton,
Norfolk IP25 6AB
Tel: 01953 889200
E-mail: info@eafl.org.uk
Website: www.eafl.org.uk
Page published: 23 January 2004