Their project ‘Better Deal- Affordable Local Food for Local People’ is intended to increase involvement in and access to local food, particularly for people who do not usually buy local food. It will provide an effective market for local producers including community food producers, micro businesses and very small scale home producers. Stroudco will be based at Parliament school in one of Stroud’s council estates and will use the school hall for a regular food drop. Consumer members will be able to order food online (using a PC in the school if necessary) and collect from the school hall.

Nick Weir project treasurer said: “We are very excited to see Stroudco start to trade and look forward to signing up more small-scale, local producers and consumers within walking distance of the school where the food drops are sorted.”

The project hopes to engage people from the adjacent disadvantaged estate. There will be taster sessions for people to try different local produce and a range of training, volunteering and community local food events provided. The producers will offer regular ‘farm days’ or (‘open days’ for non-farmers) where consumers will be able to get involved in the work of the farm, fruit picking for the jam-makers for example.

All the producers will be based within a 15 mile radius of Stroud, Gloucestershire.They will target consumers within walking distance of the school. On the whole the project will also increase the capacity of the local food sector including a well networked group of small producers.