Let's get the Greater Manchester food revolution moving!

by veg-people in Manchester

We did it
On 19th July 2013 we successfully raised £16,575 with 323 supporters in 42 days

Manchester Veg decided we should do something about the impact of the current food industry by creating a local distribution model! Help us to do it!

by veg-people in Manchester

Lets Grow a Fairer Food System for Everyone.

Support Greater Manchester's small-scale farmers and organic growers by donating to Manchester Veg People (MVP).

We grow and supply local, organic and sustainably grown veg to the people of Greater Manchester. We are a unique non-profit distributing co-op of farmers and buyers, beavering away to create a fairer food system, and we really need your help to make it work here and now.

We got together because we were worried about the impact of the current food industry: on the environment, on small-scale farmers and on consumers.

We decided we should do something about it by creating a fairer way of doing business - a co-operative where growers and buyers work together creating relationships of trust and understanding.

MVP supports existing growers (who have particularly struggled over the last two growing seasons due to the unpredictable weather), and crucially new people who want to get into farming - making food growing a viable way to make a living by paying a fair price for their produce (a price that covers the cost of production – which shockingly often isn't the case).

We have been going for 18 months now, and things are starting to take off. We are at an exciting and very crucial stage. The demand for our wonderful fresh produce is growing and we are currently gearing up to supply local primary schools. But we need to raise funds to grow the capacity of the co-op to enable us to do this.

The problem is that until now we have been operating using shared vans and storage space - we need more space and our own van to be able to meet this new demand. Excitingly a knock on effect of this is that we'll need more supply too – which means we'll be increasing the income for our farmers (and providing a fair market for new growers) and as a result, growing more local organic veg!

It's time to get serious, to show that this fairer business model can really work.

So, we're crowdfunding to buy a van, cold store and packing equipment so we can get more local veg from the fields around Gtr Manchester onto Mancunian’s plates.

Food for Thought.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by climate change, feel helpless about workers conditions and loose trust in the food we eat. A fairer food system is something that we can all aspire to and all be part of, by producing or eating more of our food locally and sustainably.

But it is easier for some to access the best and freshest foods, whilst for many good food is seen as a luxury.

Our food system needs to change, and soon. We don't believe that this will happen through the current mainstream food system, which makes huge profits at the expense of small scale growers, family farms and the health of millions of consumers.

We are building a viable alternative that shares the risks and rewards and can bring affordable, healthy and sustainable food to everyone.

Supporting local Farmers to grow.

We’ll let our members explain why it is so important for MVP to grow:

We are tapping into a market that hasn’t really been tapped into before with local organic vegetables for the catering industry: from small cafes and restaurant to large institutions like the University of Manchester. Rob Alderson, Moss Brook Growers.

The potential is huge! I want our produce in local schools and hospitals and MVP is a perfect opportunity to make this happen. Jenny Hall, Fir Tree Community Growers.

Manchester Veg People really needs a van to get things going. Its really difficult to expand the business when there is no vehicle to deliver the produce in. Alan Creedon, Glebelands City Growers.

You are supporting people who have put themselves out there and work hard for a living and it's about supporting that for me. Martin Smith, Executive Chef, University of Manchester.

Good Food for Everyone.

Manchester Veg People has a vision of a Greater Manchester where the freshest, highest quality food is available to everyone: from local cafés to exclusive restaurants, in school meals and on hospital wards. We started 18 months ago supplying restaurants and cafés testing the concept and building credibility. By working closely with the University of Manchester we have proven that we can supply the public sector with affordable food direct from local farms.

By getting a van and having our own dedicated cold store we will be in a strong position to supply the schools and other public institutions we are currently working with.

 

What we'll spend the money on

We can get a really good large second-hand van for about £8,000, it's then going to cost us around £5,000 to get the van converted so that it's refrigerated. We also need to buy a cold store to store the veg in and that's going to cost around £5,000. Lastly we need to buy some weigh scales, pallet trucks and benches so we can set up our packing area and some packaging. This is all going to cost around £3,000.

We have secured 40% match-funding from the European Union, so for every pound you donate we can claim an additional 40p.

So the bottom line is we are striving to raise £16,000 through this CrowdFunding Campaign and if we are successful we will have £22,000 to grow the co-op and help make good sustainable food available to everyone!

Scarily we're now in the final week of this campaign, but excitingly we haven't got far to go before we reach that target – if everyone who reads this donates just £5 and gets two of their friends to do the same, we'll reach the target in no time.

Thank you!

So, if you believe in a fairer food system, want better access to locally grown organic food for Greater Manchester, or simply want the opportunity to be a farmer for the day or dine at one of our buyers restaurants, have a look at our fantastic rewards and make a pledge!
Thank you so much.

If you have any questions please get in touch on [email protected]

Souper deal vouchers:

Vouchers are available for the following establishments for the Souper Deal reward (see right), there are only a few for each one, please state which you’d like and we’ll do our best to allocate that one to you. Vouchers are given out on a first-come-first-served basis, and we’ll update this list as vouchers are claimed.

Chorlton Green Brasserie - taken!
Common
The Marble Arch - taken!
Aumbry - taken!
The Bay Horse 
Mark Addy - taken!
The Rose Garden - taken!
Wendy’s House - taken!
Christie's Bistro, University of Manchester

 

    

 

 

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£5 or more

£5 Reward

Our thanks - A huge Veg People thank you and your name on the website as a supporter of the Manchester fair food revolution!

£25 or more

41 of 100 claimed

£25 Reward

Name a chicken! After you or someone you love – receive an e-card from them and get the chance to come and see where they live at Abbey Leys farmers market on the 6th of October - great for hen night gifts (-;

£50 or more

27 of 30 claimed

£50 Reward

Be a farmer – For those who like to get their hands dirty - An invitation to come out on one of 3 special farm visits. The trip will include a tour of the site by the farmer, a mini organic veg growing class, and some veg action! We'll feed you with a delicious seasonal soup and you'll get to take home a button badge designed by a local artist and an exclusive Veg People growing certificate plus you get your name on our shiny new van!

£60 or more

6 of 100 claimed

£60 Reward

A heritage apple tree & beautiful children's book 'Organic Alice', written by new Manchester Veg People grower. An invitation to Abbey Leys Farmers Market on the 6th of October, to collect your reward and soak up the atmosphere of the farm where there is an orchard of these heritage variety trees planted

£70 or more

£70 Reward

Veg taster – An invitation to an exclusive pick and cook event at one of our member farms; Glebelands City Growers. Pick your own tea! And of course get a bag of veg to take home, your beautiful badge and your name on the van!

£200 or more

11 of 14 claimed

£200 Reward

A bread baking masterclass with the amazing Mary-Ellen McTague of The Aumbry. You also get to take home a certificate of veg cooking excellence, a beautiful button badge and your name on our van. (one date only tbc.)

£15 or more

100 of 100 claimed

£15 Reward

Meet the farmers – An invitation to the launch of our van at an exclusive farm open day, where you get to meet some of our growers over a yummy seasonal soup, toast the new van with a delicious elder flower champagne, and an artist designed veg growing button badge to wear proudly home.

£35 or more

14 of 14 claimed

£35 Reward

The Veg People mystery goody bag! – receive an exclusive Veg People goody bag (would need to be collected)containing a variety of gifts from our buyers including The Bean and Brush – Arts and Crafts Vouchers and craft kits, The Brew Boat soup vouchers and of course Veg! And an invitation to the launch party where you can collect your prize!

£80 or more

14 of 14 claimed

£80 Reward

Souper deal! A free delicious Veg People meal for two at one of our participating local eateries! (please see main body of text on the left for a list.) Your name on our shiny new van and an invitation to our launch of the van – where you will meet the growers and toast the van with a yummy seasonal soup!

£500 or more

2 of 2 claimed

£500 Reward

Vegtastic! An amazingly exclusive 9 course tasting menu for 2 at the award winning Aumbry. Overnight accommodation for 2 at Chancellors (Manchester Uni), be a farmer for the day: Farm visit including a veg growing mini class, a farm tour, a seasonal soup lunch. And of course your name on our van! (and an invitation to the launch too)

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