Food Connect's vision is to create a world where everyone has access to healthy, fresh, ecologically-grown food that is fair to growers, eaters, and the planet. We want to transform the food system, and we believe the next step towards this vision is to create a working local food hub for the regional food economy, that is owned by the community.
For over 18 years, Food Connect has led the way in demonstrating an ethical, regenerative food system based on a business model that has evolved from a subscription service using the principles of community-supported agriculture, through to embracing the e-commerce revolution to make good food more accessible to more people, and now establishing a regional food hub as the Food Connect Shed.
As a social enterprise we’ve used our profits to do our bit to build the fair food movement, including mentoring many successful start-ups in Brisbane and beyond with the goal of transforming the food system. When we started out, we were breaking new ground in connecting the community with local, ecological farmers. Between tech advancements and increased social awareness, this space is well covered now. And the rising costs of living and doing business have made it difficult to pass on those prices under our fair ‘true cost’ model and remain competitive.
For these reasons, the veg and grocery arm of Food Connect no longer exists and has made its last deliveries.
We know that systems change requires deep culture change as much as economic change. And we want to prepare for the future in a way that is more community, more caring, compassionate and place-based.
So from 2023 we’ll be putting more energy into building community-owned infrastructure and movements through some big plans brewing at the Food Connect Shed and Food Connect Foundation. Though it hurts to see the business that started it all come to an end, we’re optimistic that something will emerge toward making a deeper impact in community.
Read below to find out more:
THE FOOD CONNECT FOUNDATION:
The Food Connect Foundation's vision is a world where all Australians can access healthy, fresh, ecologically-grown food that is fair to growers and eaters.
The Food Connect Foundation is a not-for-profit registered charity creating a new regenerative food system by initiating social enterprises, supporting growers and promoting conscious food choices through education and awareness.
Through the creation of prosperous regional and urban food systems our vision ensures Australians can access healthy, fresh, ecologically-grown food that is fair to people and good for the planet.
THE FOOD CONNECT SHED
While we're incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, we think we need to move the needle even further. So together with over 500 of our local community, customers, farmers and supporters, we raised over $2 million in an equity crowdfunding campaign in late 2018 to purchase the warehouse that we'd rented for over 12 years.
FOOD CONNECT'S IMPACT:
- Farmers are paid true cost of production - average 4x more than conventional markets
- Short supply chain = 95% food system carbon emisssions saved
- Social isolation reduced through closer connections between growers, eaters and local community
- Food Connect Shed 100% powered by renewable energy
- GMO Free, Ecological and Regenerative Farming Methods, No Hydroponics, Increased Carbon Sequestration through healthy soils
- 2:1 Wage Ratio for all staff including the owners
We now have Australia's first community-owned local food hub, the Food Connect Shed, providing the infrastructure to create a stable market for our farmers, completely divorced from market forces, and to create a home to many ethical food entrepreneurs.