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A very impressive launch to the Bioshere project in Machynlleth. As speakers reminded us this is however the start of a long journey.
It is important that the project continues to build momentum.
One idea may be to set up a food hub in Machynlleth. This would act as a collection point for the areas home grown and home made produce. It could act as a shop for the public but more importantly as a one stop shop for local hotels and restraunts.
As well as Dyfi Valley salt marsh lamb, local Welsh Black beef, we could have locally caught fish, Cardigan Bay lobsters and dyfi cockles. Home made preserves, local honey , in season vegetables, etc. Initially where local produce was unavailable some out sourcing may be needed giving preference first to the three counties in which the bioshere is located.
Sales to businesses would need to be at a discount to the general public. Deliveries would be prefrable to encourage uptake by businesses with a daily circular route being able to collect produce as well as making deliveries.
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Please don't forget that a local box scheme already exists and has been in operation for about 5 years now. They collect from local farms and deliver to local drop-off points and restaurants between Borth and Barmouth once a week.
Contact information is on www.dyfivalleyorganics.co.uk
Brian
www.dyfi.com
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Where as a private person can I buy the local fish? I love eating fresh fish but I rarely come across it in Machynlleth shops. Local drop-off points are no good to individuals, are they?
Interesting - the Biosphere project. Must find out more about it.
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The drop off points ARE for individuals. The idea is that the company involved acts as the collector and distributor for locally produced food. they collect from local farms, prepare boxes according to the needs of the individual then drop them off at the most convenient point for the individual to collect from.
They prepare boxes for hotels, restaurants and even for redistribution elsewhere but the majority are for individual consumers. The idea is to keep the food and payment for the food within the community although some inevitably has to be sourced further afield. Wherever it comes from it is certified organic and in many cases the source of the food is labeled with the name of the farm or supplier on the packaging. The delivery containers are recycled, you simply leave them at the drop off point so they can be collected next time. Payment can be left with the returned container or sent directly to the delivery company by cheque.
I collect from the drop off point in Aberdyfi which is a small cafe. I am usually there when the delivery is made so I transfer the food to a large carrier bag and hand back the container and payment to the driver.
I don't know where you are but there is almost certainly a drop off point close to you. If you can find five or more friends who want to join the scheme, a new drop off point, convenient to you all can be created and the drop off point also gets a free food box for their effort.
I have some biosphere leaflets here, they are a bit out of date as they are asking for support to renew the Biosphere status but the background information is still valid and informative. Leave me a private message with your address and I'll post one to you.
Brian. (www.dyfi.com)
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Your vision sounds great, Owen. Combine with an online ordering system and we'd be getting somewhere. I'm jealous of how they're getting on in Pembrokeshire - see http://www.pembrokeshireproducedirect.org.uk/ I'm not convinced it would be a useful way for many businesses to buy produce though; hotels would want their own wholesale arrangements, I think.
Andy
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