A fresh taste of a healthier life (From Barry And District News)

A fresh taste of a healthier life

YOUNG mums from a Barry estate have hailed a community project aimed at providing fresh food at low prices a great success.

The 'Heart of Gibbonsdown' food co-operative was launched on Thursday, March 11, and aims to provide affordable vegetable and fruit produce supplied by local producers.

One mum has seen the quality of diet change dramatically.

Stephanie Grigg of Magellen Close said: "It has helped me to provide a healthier diet for my two young children. They seem to have more energy than they used to.

"Ben is 19 months old and Abigail is five years old. Before the co-op scheme I could not afford to buy fresh fruit or vegetables each week. They were luxuries rather than every day items.

"It costs £2 for a bag of fruit and vegetables which is a lot cheaper than other fresh produce prices. I used to pay £5 or more. I have a friend who also goes to get fruit and she has benefited from the co-op."

The 26-year-old added: "Ben loves to eat bananas they are his favourite. But before they would not be available to him each week, now we can afford it.

"I often make a stew with the veg and we have a Sunday lunch."

The co-op now wants to link itself with farmers to encourage them to grow more fresh produce to sell as part of the programme.

Barry Heart Health worker, Rachael Slowcombe said: "We want to increase the intake of fresh produce. This helps decrease the possibility of heart problems and improves health in general. It can also reduce cancer rates.

Welsh Assembly backing has created the two-year pilot project which will hopefully lead to 26 co-ops throughout Wales.