Where to find fresh fruits and vegetables in lockdown and beyond
We need access to fresh whole plant foods as much as ever. When multiple Australian states announced a lockdown, panic-buying may have impacted access to fresh produce in the supermarkets. Meanwhile, some people's income would have been reduced in these restricted times. So the question remains, where can Aussies access fresh vegetables and fruits within their locations and budgets?
Good old 'small business' fruit and veg shop
Let's start with an obvious one. The separate fruit and veggie shops could have more fresh essentials than the panic-shopped supermarkets. Look, there should still be something at your Coles or Woolies. But if they run out of something, don't give up. Try the specialist stores if they have true fresh quality.
If you want to support very local businesses
Look for local producers such as fruit or veggie farmers, mushroom growers and more. This should appear in Google Map or from word of mouth. Ask these businesses if they would deliver or offer pickup for local individuals.
If you want organic food delivered to your home
Search online to find a food co-op near you. Some co-ops deliver food boxes and custom orders. This could be cheaper than other options.
There are multiple organic food delivery services appearing in a basic Google search. Find one that delivers to your postcode.
If you want a good bargain to save money
Again, some big fruit and vegetable shops offer bulk deals. But there are more options. You don't have to avoid the supermarket entirely. You could get lucky and see produce on clearance.
Usually, before lockdown, I strongly suggested individual sellers of home grown back yard edible plants. This was often found on Facebook Marketplace. I don't know if that's allowed now. Food is an essential product. But I would love to know if a socially distanced food pickup is legally ok. I mean, it's preventing waste and improving health. But I'm not an expert…
If you want to grow some food - even in a small space
Before lockdown, my ideal would involve picking up a small pot of herbs or other edible plants from a neighbour who might have a surplus. That's a great affordable option. Again, I don't know what's allowed. But there are other options.
If you got spare change, shop for little seedlings or small edible potted plants. They could be at Big W, the flower shop or maybe the hardware store.
If you're really broke
Money troubles can affect anyone in these times. When you need to stretch every dollar, there are ways to continue eating whole plants.
OzHarvest is "saving surplus food from ending up in landfill and delivering it to charities that help feed people in need."They have a search function to find food relief in an area.
Check to see if your nearest community garden is open during lockdown. I don't know if this counts as "essential goods and services." Contact anyone who manages a community garden and see if they can let you know about access or send ripe plant foods. If you don't know where to find the best location, do a search at the Community Gardens Australia web site.
Don't be shy. Whether your philosophical beliefs align or not, ask your nearest church for a location of a food pantry. Some should offer fresh food in addition to long life staples. These services actually prevent waste. So when people are in need, they can help the environment by also helping themselves. When unsold food is given away, it is rescued from landfill.
High fibre plant based foods - fruits, vegetables and whole grains. istock
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