Food Co-Operatives

With soaring food costs, healthy eating can come at a high price. Food Co-Operatives offer one solution to ensure that people can buy good quality food without breaking the bank. Experts have long advocated that we should be eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables per day (excluding potatoes and other starchy tubers) for the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity, as well as for the prevention and alleviation of several micronutrient deficiencies, especially in less developed countries. With 1.7 million (2.8%) of deaths worldwide attributed to low fruit and vegetable consumption1 there has been much emphasis on ensuring that we consume the recommended amounts. Incorporating five portions of fruit and vegetables into our day seems like a relatively easy way to stay healthy; however for many it can be a hard task to eat just one portion. Depending on where you live and your economic circumstance, maintaining a healthy diet can either be expensive or incredibly difficult. Despite the growth of supermarkets, there are still many areas where people simply can't buy healthy and sustainable food due to inflated prices, poor transport links, limited shops and/or a general lack of choice. Social disadvantage still remains one of the key barriers to health throughout the world. Whilst there is no doubt that supermarkets have made access to fruit and vegetables easier and in the most part chea...