Get groceries for 30 per cent cheaper than supermarkets with this shopping trick
- Replies 4
The cost of living can be quite a concern, especially for those who have given up the regular paychecks of full-time work.
But what if there's a way to keep your pantry stocked with fresh, seasonal produce while keeping your wallet happy?
Enter the world of community food co-operatives, a shopping trick that could save you up to 30 per cent compared to supermarket prices.
Box Divvy, a local community initiative, is leading the charge in revolutionising how families shop for food.
Founded by Jayne Travers-Drapes and Anton van den Berg, this innovative platform connects communities directly with farmers and food producers.
The result? Market-fresh, locally and Australian-grown seasonal fruit, vegetables, and groceries that not only taste better but also cost less.
‘So basically Anton and I, my husband and I, run this from the farm,’ Jayne said.
‘We live just outside of Wengham, up on the Central Coast.’
'We get the produce in that day, it gets put on the pallets, gets put in a truck, gets sent up to Coffs Harbour or wherever we're sending it to.’
‘It goes to the person's house, the hubster, they pack it and the members pick up the same day,’ she added.
Jayne and Anton have seen Box Divvy grow to support 290 hubs and 13,000 families across ACT and New South Wales, with plans to expand into Victoria and Queensland.
The process is simple: produce is collected fresh, packed by a local 'hubster' at their home, and then picked up by members on the same day. This direct-from-farmer approach cuts out the middleman, ensuring fair prices for producers and savings for consumers.
This ethos is reflected in the positive feedback from more than 2,200 members, with 80.8 per cent reporting healthier eating habits and 87.2 per cent feeling more connected to their local community since joining.
The Western Sydney Diabetes Alliance and Western Sydney University have taken note, indicating that initiatives like Box Divvy could be a game-changer in improving access to healthy food and reducing the risk of diabetes, particularly in underserved regions.
Professor Freya MacMillan, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Research at Western Sydney University, shared the significance of the results of the survey.
‘While the results are indicative, they suggest that community food co-operatives like Box Divvy could be a powerful tool for increasing access to nutritious food in areas that need it most,’ she said.
‘We buy in bulk so that we get good pricing, but we pay our farmers fairly,’ she explained.
‘You can see price transparency as well.
‘You'll join a Hub, a mum or dad in your neighbourhood, and then you get an app and every week you order your fruit and veg and bread and groceries you pick it up once a week from your neighbour.’
A recent analysis found that Box Divvy offers fruit and vegetables at prices 30 per cent lower than major supermarkets.
This is because the produce is seasonal and sourced directly from farmers.
Jayne explained that recent weather changes have ‘slammed’ cucumber and capsicum crops in Queensland, making them unavailable for now, but there’s plenty of zucchini, eggs, and lettuce available instead.
‘So seasonally, we'll go around Australia. Strawberries go around seasonally around Australia. And so do carrots, and so do most things,’ she said.
Beyond fruits and vegetables, Box Divvy customers can purchase meat and seafood on Saturdays, and soon, pantry items.
They also work closely with local farmers to plan future seasons, suggesting popular produce based on customer demand.
Jayne envisioned a renewed focus on locally grown produce, as in the past, and a rise in home cooking.
‘We've lost a couple of generations of people being able to cook or feel confident,’ she said.
‘And I think that's the most significant thing about Box Divvy is that we're about community and neighbours getting to know each other.’.
The organisation also gives back through Kindness Boxes.
‘In the old days, we used to cook and leave something on the doorstep because everybody knew everybody, but now people don't. But someone always knows someone. I've got some Hubs that regularly have the Kindness Box going out,’ Jayne added.
Join Box Divvy's food hub or run a food hub here.
Have you tried shopping with a food co-operative, or do you have other tips for saving on groceries? Share your experiences and advice in the comments below!
But what if there's a way to keep your pantry stocked with fresh, seasonal produce while keeping your wallet happy?
Enter the world of community food co-operatives, a shopping trick that could save you up to 30 per cent compared to supermarket prices.
Box Divvy, a local community initiative, is leading the charge in revolutionising how families shop for food.
Box Divvy’s products are reported to be 30 per cent cheaper than other supermarkets. Credit: Box Divvy / Facebook
Founded by Jayne Travers-Drapes and Anton van den Berg, this innovative platform connects communities directly with farmers and food producers.
The result? Market-fresh, locally and Australian-grown seasonal fruit, vegetables, and groceries that not only taste better but also cost less.
‘So basically Anton and I, my husband and I, run this from the farm,’ Jayne said.
‘We live just outside of Wengham, up on the Central Coast.’
'We get the produce in that day, it gets put on the pallets, gets put in a truck, gets sent up to Coffs Harbour or wherever we're sending it to.’
‘It goes to the person's house, the hubster, they pack it and the members pick up the same day,’ she added.
Jayne and Anton have seen Box Divvy grow to support 290 hubs and 13,000 families across ACT and New South Wales, with plans to expand into Victoria and Queensland.
The process is simple: produce is collected fresh, packed by a local 'hubster' at their home, and then picked up by members on the same day. This direct-from-farmer approach cuts out the middleman, ensuring fair prices for producers and savings for consumers.
This ethos is reflected in the positive feedback from more than 2,200 members, with 80.8 per cent reporting healthier eating habits and 87.2 per cent feeling more connected to their local community since joining.
The Western Sydney Diabetes Alliance and Western Sydney University have taken note, indicating that initiatives like Box Divvy could be a game-changer in improving access to healthy food and reducing the risk of diabetes, particularly in underserved regions.
Professor Freya MacMillan, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Research at Western Sydney University, shared the significance of the results of the survey.
‘While the results are indicative, they suggest that community food co-operatives like Box Divvy could be a powerful tool for increasing access to nutritious food in areas that need it most,’ she said.
‘We buy in bulk so that we get good pricing, but we pay our farmers fairly,’ she explained.
‘You can see price transparency as well.
‘You'll join a Hub, a mum or dad in your neighbourhood, and then you get an app and every week you order your fruit and veg and bread and groceries you pick it up once a week from your neighbour.’
A recent analysis found that Box Divvy offers fruit and vegetables at prices 30 per cent lower than major supermarkets.
This is because the produce is seasonal and sourced directly from farmers.
Jayne explained that recent weather changes have ‘slammed’ cucumber and capsicum crops in Queensland, making them unavailable for now, but there’s plenty of zucchini, eggs, and lettuce available instead.
‘So seasonally, we'll go around Australia. Strawberries go around seasonally around Australia. And so do carrots, and so do most things,’ she said.
Beyond fruits and vegetables, Box Divvy customers can purchase meat and seafood on Saturdays, and soon, pantry items.
They also work closely with local farmers to plan future seasons, suggesting popular produce based on customer demand.
Jayne envisioned a renewed focus on locally grown produce, as in the past, and a rise in home cooking.
‘We've lost a couple of generations of people being able to cook or feel confident,’ she said.
‘And I think that's the most significant thing about Box Divvy is that we're about community and neighbours getting to know each other.’.
The organisation also gives back through Kindness Boxes.
‘In the old days, we used to cook and leave something on the doorstep because everybody knew everybody, but now people don't. But someone always knows someone. I've got some Hubs that regularly have the Kindness Box going out,’ Jayne added.
Join Box Divvy's food hub or run a food hub here.
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