Bulk produce program growing in Saint John

A food bulk buying program in Saint John is helping people eat healthy on a budget.

The Saint John Food Purchasing Club, created in 1997 for those living in poverty, has grown to include users from all walks of life and is looking to further expand, said organizer Martha MacLean.

Under the program, run through the Horizon Health Network, people can place an order for either a $10- or $20-box of fruits and vegetables.

Their money is then combined to purchase seasonal produce in bulk for the best value, said MacLean.

Volunteers fill the boxes and deliver them to various locations for pickup at the end of each month.

"A lot of people find it of value that they can get good value for their money," said MacLean.

"We have some people who are long-standing members of the club who have been members for years and years and years. And they say it's like Christmas every time they pick up their order. They're not sure what they're going to get," she said.

Each order also includes a newsletter that compares savings, as well as recipes that use the fruits and vegetables in the order.

The program helps put healthy food on the tables of those who might otherwise not be able to afford it, said Anne Driscoll, executive director of the Crescent Valley Resource Centre, which is located in a low-income neighbourhood in the city's north end and serves as one of the distribution centres.

"The price of food is just astronomical and people are forgoing fresh fruits and vegetables for perhaps canned things or filling up on carbohydrates instead of fresh fruits and vegetables, so this is absolutely necessary for children and for their parents too," said Driscoll.

"We're finding that people are getting quite a bit more value for their dollar [through the program] than they would at a regular grocery store," she said.

"For a $10 order, they're getting about $20 worth of fruits and vegetables and for a $20 order they're getting $40 worth."

There are currently five locations where members can pay for and pick up their orders:

• Community Health Centre, 116 Coburg St.
• Centenary Queen Square United Church, 164 Germain St.
• Crescent Valley Resource Centre, 130 MacLaren Blvd.
• O.N.E. Office, 195 Victoria St.
• Market Place Wellness, 120 Market Place

The Saint John Purchasing Club hopes to offer additional locations, particularly on the east and west sides, in the New Year.