We’re sure many of you are well aware, the Co-op has faced some challenges over the past couple of years with food supply that has been affecting many products we stock in the Co-op, including some staples (like rice) and fresh produce.
We felt to publish an official update to raise awareness and understanding of what is behind the supply issues and so you, our members, can be ready to adapt when a product you buy is unavailable, delayed or, where possible, substituted.
Causes
You may like to read this article for more information published on The Guardian, Sunday July 10, 2022: Rising food prices hit every supermarket aisle putting pressure on low-income families
You may like to read this article for more information published on ABC Rural website, Monday October 24, 2022: Most productive NSW agricultural shire counts hundreds of millions of dollars in crop losses
You may like to read these two articles for more information, the first, published on ABC Rural website Tuesday December 6, 2022: Farm export values push to near record high despite challenging east coast conditions
and the second, published ABC Rural website Tuesday December 6, 2022: Farm export values push to near record high despite challenging east coast conditions
You may like to read this article for more information published on Gro Intelligence Saturday October 15, 2022: World Rice Production to Drop in 2022/23, Reversing Years of Bounty
The Co-op may continue to face uncertainty in the availability of staples such as rice. Fresh produce may continue to be impacted with shortages and price increases across the board. Overall prices may continue to increase, impacting shoppers and the luxury of choice may not be available.
(Little Shop: no adverse effects are being experienced in the Little Shop. We are stocked up for Christmas. There has been delays in shipping, but that is typical this time of the year).
A Note on Food Security in Australia
Overall Australia, as a nation, is considered to have high food security, as reported in this article on the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website, January 13, 2021: Analysis of Australia’s food security and the COVID-19 pandemic
However, some news reports are suggesting otherwise, both from a supply chain perspective and an affordability and access to food point of view.
Madeleine Pitt, our Fruit & Veg Coordinator’s observes that ‘overall, our fruit and vegetable supply from Sydney markets is now stable and most of the leafy greens have returned in steady supply. While some prices have remained higher than average (like potatoes due to poor planting weather), prices have started to return to more reasonable levels thanks to this now being the best time of year for growing so many crops.”
Our strategy for the coming months and years
Rest assured that we will continue to create strategies and do what is in our power to adapt, pivot and source the best food and produce for you, for the best possible price and most superior quality we can, while maintaining our collective food purchasing criteria, and finding new food supply streams if and when needed/ where we can.
In August 2022, we fast-tracked and established set-up of our Urban Market Garden just up the road from the Co-op in College Lane. This is one of our strategies to mitigate supply issues and increase the Co-op’s food security.
We are already growing our own produce that is being sold in the Co-op. We plan to add additional crops to the site in the coming months and years. Watch this space. If you’d like to get involved in the Market Garden
Read more about our Market Garden here: The Co-op Market Garden
Dear Members,
Firstly, we’d like to thank you for rallying together to support the Co-op. It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) and we hope to see even more of you at the next one.
As some of you may be aware, the Blue Mountains Food Co-op is experiencing financial challenges. As the new Co-op board, we have been busy working with the Co-op staff and members to understand the current situation and develop priority actions to support the Co-op in navigating this challenging time.
One of the Co-op’s many valuable assets is our highly engaged membership. There are a myriad of ways you can help including raising awareness of the Co-op among your personal networks, sharing your ideas and feedback, and volunteering in store, for events, and on our (soon-to-be-established) sub-committees. Click here to learn more about our fantastic volunteer program.
If each member encourages just one person to sign up, we’ll go a long way to achieving our goal of providing high-quality food that doesn’t cost the earth and to support and inspire as many members as possible to make sustainable living choices.
We extend our sincere thanks to the outgoing board and staff for their generosity, tenacity and professionalism in navigating the Co-op through what was a difficult and unprecedented time, recently, and for the many years of service prior to that. We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to getting to know you all better as we work together on this exciting and very important chapter in the Co-op’s service to our community.
There has never been a more important time for us to be united by our shared core needs and beliefs, as well as embracing our differences. We appreciate your patience as we focus on ensuring we steer the Co-op in the right direction and achieve priority outcomes, as well as meeting the needs of our diverse membership as realistically and inclusively as possible.
Finally, we’d like to confirm the roles of the new board members.
We have a big task ahead as the world faces the reckoning of past extravagance but together we can create a nourishing present and bright future. Food brings us together. It connects us with nature and has the power to nourish our body, spirit and environment.
Yours in partnership,
Aaron, Cecilia, Elmira, Rowan, Sarah, Simone, Susan
