Manchester Veg People- A new practice in fresh produce

by Startacus Admin

So many of us are particular about the food we prepare at home - for some, organic is the order of the day and for others, only high quality locally sourced produce is fit to grace the table. But surely it’s not possible to exercise the same selectivity when it comes to eating out?

One valiant start-up in Manchester thinks it should be - in fact Manchester Veg People have set themselves the Herculean challenge of revolutionising the supply chain of fresh produce to restaurants across the city. Intrigued? Here's a taster of what they are all about...

With the tagline Keeping it fresh, organic and local Manchester Veg People (MVP) comprises a progressive co-op of local organic growers and restaurants operating in partnership to offer fresh seasonal produce to the diners of Manchester. The whole setup is an eco-warrior’s dream as all the veg comes from within 50 miles of Manchester city centre from environmentally sustainable farms dedicated to growing organic produce for the local market. As if that weren't enough, the local distribution and reduced processing is designed to minimize waste, deliver produce which is affordable and make sure that growers are given a fair price for what they supply.

The integrated structure of the co-op, encompasses everyone involved in the food`s journey from seed to plate, and is in keeping with a much wider movement of people across the country, who have become fed-up with the current system of industrial scale food production and distribution. The desire for change is evident in the impressive list of clients MVP has gained since its creation including the University of Manchester and the iconic 8th Day Cafe.   The innovative nature of the organisation and the potential it has to develop further is demonstrated by the fact that in their first year they have distributed £22,000 worth of produce.   Peanuts in the grand scheme of things perhaps, but take into consideration that thus far most of the co-op’s growth has been on the back of borrowed transport vehicles, storage and office space and this achievement becomes all the more inspiring.

MVP could really be onto something and it seems we're not the only ones who think so,  as they have just exceeded the £16,000 crowd-funding target for their “Get the Manchester Food Revolution Moving” campaign. This represents a significant victory for these organic veg advocates and will allow them to expand the co-op and bring fresh local produce to an even greater number of people.

We doff our caps to MVP on their innovative approach to food production and distribution - they are an inspirational example of how new thinking and a challenge to the dominant system can be the start of something great!  

If you like this post you might also like:

• Market Direct (online shopping + farmers market)

• From idea to business launch in 3 months - We chat to Philip Crilly of Eatibbles

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Published on: 14th September 2013