OxFarmToFork Launches Crowdfunder to Deliver Fresh Local Produce to Oxfordshire
OxFarmToFork, a pioneering initiative by Good Food Oxfordshire, is calling on the Oxfordshire community to support its crowdfunder to help provide Oxford Food Hub and its network of charities, community groups and schools.
The newly launched ‘Fresh Food for Oxfordshire’ campaign seeks to raise £10,000 over two months to ensure that nutritious, locally grown vegetables reach those most in need. The campaign will also ensure that producers signed up to OxFarmToFork will be able to have their surplus produce ‘bought’ and distributed by Oxford Food Hub.
Since July 2023, OxFarmToFork has helped support local producers who prioritise nature-friendly farming practices by creating an ordering platform for Oxford colleges and other buyers to purchase hyper-local produce. The project came about when Oxfordshire local food network and non-profit organisation Good Food Oxfordshire decided to reimagine the local food system and trial a short, local supply chain option that meant the huge quantity of fresh, delicious produce – from vegetables to baked goods – served in local institutions was sourced locally instead of brought in from mass wholesalers from across the country.
With only 1% of Oxford’s food supply currently sourced locally and nearly half of the UK’s farmers facing an uncertain future, OxFarmToFork works to secure better financial stability for farmers by connecting them with local buyers such as Oxford University colleges. Since its pilot year, OxFarmToFork currently has 19 colleges who are buying from 20 local producers on a weekly or twice-weekly basis.
“We now want to extend this so that absolutely everyone has access to the incredible fresh veg and goods in Oxfordshire,” says Janie Bickersteth, Project Lead of OxFarmToFork. “This is a real opportunity for our community to unite in support of individuals and families in need as well as our local farmers. Every pound donated directly funds fresh, surplus produce from Oxfordshire farms, building food resilience, reducing waste, and supporting sustainable, nature-friendly farming.”
Running from 15 November 2024 to 15 January 2025, the campaign will provide funding for Oxford Food Hub to distribute fresh, surplus produce directly from small-scale Oxfordshire farmers signed up to OxFarmToFork, making it available to schools, charities, and community organisations addressing food insecurity. This drive will not only help meet local needs but will also support Oxfordshire’s farmers by reducing food waste and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Oxford Food Hub currently support:
- 17 schools and nurseries
- 8 children’s community/after school groups
- 30 refugee/homeless organisations
- 4 colleges
If the goal of £10,000 is reached, this will allow OxFarmToFork to offer Oxford Food Hub around a year’s worth of fresh produce to distribute – reaching people across Oxfordshire who are facing food insecurity, homelessness, and economic hardship.
Why Your Support Matters Now
Each donation to the Fresh Food for Oxfordshire campaign creates immediate, tangible benefits:
- For Food Banks and Schools: Supplies fresh, nutritious food to organisations serving people facing food insecurity.
- For Farmers: Supports local agriculture and farmers by providing fair prices for surplus produce.
- For the Environment: Reduces food miles and surplus food going to waste all while supporting sustainable and low-impact farming.
You can make a difference in your community this winter by donating to the campaign. Every contribution, big or small, supports Good Food Oxfordshire’s campaign to help provide more fresh produce to Oxford Food Hub while supporting local farmers and the environment.
Donorbox Link: https://donorbox.org/fresh-food-for-oxfordshire.
For more information on OxFarmToFork, and the local producers we work with, please visit gfo.org.uk/ox-farm-to-fork.
For more information about Oxford Food Hub and the network they support, please visit: Oxford Food Hub (formerly Oxford Food Bank)
