SUSTAINABILITY Sell your own veg

Sell your own veg


Ciara Moynihan

Our middles are really feeling the pressure right now – and its not just from over-indulgence at Christmas. They are also being squeezed metaphorically, thanks to the belt-tightening that has been an inevitable consequence of the R word. The latter has prompted many to swap their shopping bag for shovels and set about growing their own veg. But what about taking it a step further, and growing veg to sell? (What’s that? The sound of belts loosening a little?)
All over the land, the phenomenon of the organic-veg-box delivery has sprouted wings and taken flight. A veg box is no longer seen as the sole prerogative of D4-ites or knit-your-own-yoghurt types. More and more people around the country are looking forward to opening their weekly consignment to see what’s inside.
The idea is that you will be delivered X amount of fresh veg for X amount of money. The emphasis is on fresh, organic produce that comes from a small local supplier. The produce will always be seasonal and so a little unpredictable. Many’s the customer who has found something they’ve never cooked before (some Swiss chard, say, or a weird and wonderful celeriac) lurking next to the regular staples like carrots and potatoes. Initial feelings of trepidation give way to the joy of discovering that leaving your traditional veggie comfort zone can opened up new culinary delights and some creative kitchenry.
This, coupled with the sheer convenience of having a veg box delivered to the home, has created quite a market. For anyone with a whiff of entrepreneurial ambition, ‘market’ is just another word for opportunity. But how does one go about building a veg-box business? Look no further than The Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim, where a new course – Producing for a Vegetable Box Scheme – is planned for Friday, January 29 (10am to 4pm).
Participants will learn how to plan and implement a scheme in their local area, covering a broad range of relevant areas, including land capability, crop planning, planning continuity of supply during growing season, sourcing additional supply, packaging and presentation, pricing, delivery systems and marketing strategies. The lecturer, Ingrid Foley, is a market gardener who already runs her own box scheme, so the day is bound to be peppered with many practical tips gleaned from real experience.

For more information, contact 071 9854338 or info@theorganiccentre.ie, or visit www.theorganiccentre.ie.