Box Divvy food hub saves consumes money while helping farmers

A number of Ethinvest clients have been sharing their love and support for food hub network Box Divvy, operating in NSW and ACT. Like a food co-op, Box Divvy connects local communities with famers and food producers to provide fresh, locally grown seasonal fruit, vegetables and groceries. Buying direct helps farmers get a fair price for their produce while providing fresher and better-quality food at a better price than the big Australian supermarkets. Box Divvy promotes sustainability with low food miles, minimal packaging and zero food waste.

Members who sign up to Box Divvy pay no joining fee and order groceries directly online from local farmers and suppliers. Orders are then delivered weekly to a nearby Hub, often in a neighbour’s garage or a community centre, for easy collection.

The Box Divvy system ensures that 60 cents of every dollar goes to farmers, significantly more than what supermarkets like Coles and Woollies pay. And by buying in bulk from the source, Box Divvy allows families to save up to 30% on their grocery bills at a time when consumer goods prices are skyrocketing. Hub organisers, or Hubsters, earn between zero and 15% of the order fee depending on the organiser.

With more than 13,000 members and 280 Hubs across NSW and the ACT – and plans for national expansion underway – Box Divvy is empowering communities to reshape the food system. About 60-70% of fresh produce, especially the greens, are grown within 200 kilometres of Sydney.

Community pickup hubs are often more than just a place to collect groceries. Many have become a gathering place for people of all ages and backgrounds and provides an opportunity for community members to get to know their neighbours.

Hubsters, often families or community members who can only work part time, can earn between 0-15% of orders and can service as many members as they have the capacity to organise, often around 55 a week.

This holiday season, it’s worth considering direct buying options to support farmers and ensure better quality and more affordable food for you and your family.

Find out more about joining a food Hub or, search Hubs in your area to join.

You can also register to run a Food Hub in your area and build your own community, click here for more.