Peninsula Environment Group

Affordable organic food

The PEG Food Network is a non-profit, community run initiative, driven by the passion and participation of its fabulous members. The Network offers:

• fortnightly fresh organic produce orders (fruit and veg) supplied by LOCAL farmers;
• several (3-4) bulk organic dry food orders supplied by Honest to Goodness (Sydney) each year;
• miscellaneous bulk orders (eg mountain bread, local coffee and possibly even cleaning/bodycare products).

Our produce is terrific and really fresh, picked just days before it comes to us (not months!). In addition to the environmental benefits of organic farming, and the waste reduction from buying bulk, buying local means massive energy savings on transport and strengthens our local community and economy.

Fortnightly fresh food orders – how it works
The purpose of this ordering group is to support our local farmers and help reduce food miles. Our fresh food comes from the 5 or so organic or biodynamic farms on Mangrove Mountain.

The produce we get is mostly seasonal. Members select what they want, as opposed to a box system. Depending on the season, produce may include salad greens, Asian greens, avocados, eggs, citrus, herbs, zucchinis, broccoli, cauliflower, spuds, stone fruit, mushrooms and even seedlings for gardeners. Bulk ‘seconds’ are seasonally available at great prices, terrific for preserving and bottling.

Prices for fresh produce are usually just over wholesale price and we try and work in with the farmers as much as possible. We do get produce from further afield if no extra ‘food miles’ are involved. Some of the produce we get is not certified organic, but still chemically free.

Fresh food orders are fortnightly. Members receive an email every second Thursday with what’s available. Orders need to be placed via email by Friday night. We use an online pre-pay system and payment must be made at the time of ordering each fortnight.

Produce is delivered the following Tuesday to the Woy Woy Environment Centre (WWEC) on Blackwall Rd and sorted by available members on a roster system. Members must collect orders between 5.15-6.30pm using their own box or bag (or you can arrange for someone else to collect during these hours).

There are sometimes variations between your order and what is available on the day: if so, any credits or debits are carried over to your next order. Sometimes farmers have additional items, which members can opt to buy on the Tuesday.

Dry food ordering
PEG Food Network orders organic/biodynamic/whole food at wholesale prices from Honest to Goodness in Sydney every 3 or 4 months. Ordering is done online, and we work together during the week or two prior to an order to team up with food ‘buddies’ within the network to share bulk quantities of items. An instruction sheet will be emailed to you at the time of ordering. Payment must be made before goods are ordered – you will be sent an email with the cost of your order. Pickup is from Woy Woy Environment Centre on Blackwall Road, Woy Woy.

Membership information
The group depends on members to contribute in some way to the ordering and distribution process, though participation is not compulsory (see fee information). Roles are rotated during the year. Training and support is given to new members on joining. 2010 membership fees are to be paid prior to ordering. The fee structure is:

• Annual fees: $25 (active/volunteering members), or $100 (non-volunteering members)
• Deposit: $50 (fresh food ordering only; refundable if/when you leave the group)

Payment can be made online with your first order. After June annual fees are $15 active / $50 non-active). Membership fees are non-refundable. We can consider flexible payment arrangements if you have difficulty paying the fees upfront.

Contact: Ellise Barkley  
 If you wish, you can arrange a one-off trial for the fresh food orders before you join. 

Please email your name; the email address you wish information to be sent to; your most reliable contact phone number; and whether you are interested in fresh or dry ordering, or both. 

(If you are a local organic retailer and wish to be listed here, please contact us.)

You can also trade home-grown fruit and home-made food using the LETS network.