What is New Shoots?
The New Shoots Community Food Club project enables people to purchase bags of fruit, vegetables and salad locally and at an affordable price.
The scheme, run by Helena Homes in partnership with the Health Improvement Team; the PCT; St Helens Council; the Probation Service and SHIFTS St Helens Community Transport Service, gives local people access to high quality produce at volunteer-run local food clubs. The quality of the produce has recently been boosted by a contract with local supplier, Your Choice, who source the vast majority of their supply from within a 25 mile radius of their Fingerpost base.
Produce costs £2.50 per bag and shoppers can choose between vegetable, fruit or salad selection, or buy one of each! A typical vegetable bag contains potatoes, carrots, cauliflowers, cabbage and other seasonal veg. The fruit selection includes classics such as apples, bananas, oranges and grapes along with more unusual treats such as mangos and lychees, and salad fans can get their fill of crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes,
cucumber, peppers and more.
Free range eggs are also available from New Shoots at £1 for half a dozen.
New Shoots does regular price comparisons with the big national supermarkets and it is always cheaper. It is a not-for-profit community enterprise, supporting the community and providing volunteering opportunities for local people. It is also greener than its competitors since, with the exception of a few pieces of fruit, produce isn't flown half way around the world and the business is all about keeping customers' cash in the community and investing in local clubs.
Join New Shoots Food Club and treat yourself to some top quality seasonal produce. You'll be feeling healthier and wealthier in no time!
How it works
- Fresh fruit and vegetables are delivered by Your Choice and unpacked by St Helens Probation Service.
- The Probation Team set off to work packing the different area’s orders. When a food club’s order is completed, the Probation Supervisor counts the packed bags to ensure the bags are correct.
- The delivery driver from St Helens Community Transport arrives to collect the packed fruit/vegetables/salad bags and drops the correct orders at each food club.
- Volunteers then provide members with their goods and take any orders and money for the following week’s food club.
- The volunteers from each club then pass any orders onto the Project Co-ordinator who then contacts Your Choice with the numbers for the following week.
Click here to find your nearest Shoots food club