Bloom Market is a low cost fresh produce community shop project from StreetBox London CIC (www.streetbox.London), working in partnership with two other Hackney based food aid organisations, Woodberry Aid at Manor House and Idia's Kitchen in Hoxton. Over the last four years, StreetBox CIC has successfully sourced surplus fresh fruit and veg from New Spitalfields wholesale market in Leyton and a number of local growers in the Lea Valley. This is fresh produce that’s less likely to be sold and used and at risk of being dumped. Just too wonky, just the ‘wrong’ size or just simply too much of it around, so saving it from going to waste. Then for every box sold, we are able to source and distribute the same (or more!) fresh surplus produce to local emergency food organisations at no cost.
The Bloom Market idea came from Chris, the Chief Banana behind StreetBox, which was set up in 2020 as a response to the pandemic and the rising cost of living crisis. Bloom Market will create localised food marketplaces for great fresh produce. Run by locals for locals at affordable, value for money prices, it’s hoped this will help bring more connections between immediate neighbours, as well as being a low-priced source of healthy fresh food. Bloom Market will be run by Idia’s Community Kitchen at Fellowes Centre, Homerton, Woodberry Aid close to Manor House and StreetBox at Stamford Hill.
This is a health initiative to encourage healthier eating on a budget. It is also a part of the fight to end poverty which creates food injustice, by bringing healthy food to people to help manage their budgets and provide good ingredients for their meals. It will also help bring communities together and if it's successful could lead to the markets offering ambient food and other items such as clothing.
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Our Opportunities
Woodberry Aid is a food injustice support group based at Manor House that organises a food bank for their local community. An opportunity for both writing and web design.
Low income doesn't have to mean poor diets and health based on cheap low nutritional food. Bloom Market's aim is to bring about a change for the better for people experiencing the effects of poverty, food injustice and the cost of living crisis.
Get in at the start of a local community health initiative project and help build a social media campaign and ongoing promotion.