Dear Good Food Box Supporters
This has been a wild ride for the Good Food Box and the Gift of Good Food. So many people in Greater Victoria have been impacted by the pandemic, and the need for healthy and affordable food is high. This year we beat our fundraising stretch goal and are packing over 200 Gift of Good Food bags every two weeks for all of 2022.
This is your Good Food Box
Good Food Box is a non-profit, alternative fruit and vegetable distribution system, to increase sustainability, food access, social justice and health. Good Food Box is brought to you by your community, lovingly packed and delivered by hard-working volunteers.
Boxes are available for pick-up or delivery every Wednesday. We purchase the highest quality produce and ensure variety, freshness and affordability. We prioritize locally grown, unsprayed produce with a focus on seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Good Food Box is a project of the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group (Fernwood NRG), a non-profit organization based in Fernwood, Victoria. Fernwood NRG is committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood.
Who can participate?
Anyone. We welcome box orders from anyone who wants to support the program—in fact, we are stronger and more sustainable the larger our customer base.
This box is accessible for everyone regardless of income level—the more the merrier.
Why order a Good Food Box?
You will save money.
Good Food Box is like a bulk-buying club. We pass the savings on to you, and only add a small mark up to cover operating costs. Our goal is to make produce available at the lowest price possible to the greatest number of community members.
You will increase your healthy choices.
Good Food Box ensures that you and your family will always have tasty, fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables in your home. Our newsletter also provides inspiration for meal and snack ideas with weekly recipes.
You will be supporting local farmers.
Good Food Box prioritizes ordering seasonal produce from local and regional farmers. We do source from other places but are always trying to buy close to home.
How do I order a box?
Three ways to order:
- Online
- By phone at 250-381-1552 x100
- In person at a pick-up location: Variable availability; pandemic dependent.
Orders and payment are due prior to each pick-up date. The deadline for ordering is Saturday at midnight.
When you order, you get to choose where you would like to pick-up your box (see our pick-up locations here).
Due to the pre-order nature of our program, all Good Food Boxes are final sale.
If there was an error with your Good Food Box or if you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us immediately at 250-381-1552.
Can I have my box delivered?
Our volunteer drivers are busy! If you are able and it is safe for you to do so, please pick up your box at Fernwood, Fairfield, Oaklands, Burnside Gorge, Saanich, Vic West, or Shoal.
Yes, you can have your box delivered right to your doorstep, the fee is Pay What You Can between $3 and $5. You can have up to 3 boxes delivered to the same address for that single fee.
Delivery is available throughout Greater Victoria within the boundary of Admirals Road, McKenzie Avenue and Sinclair Road.
Our volunteer drivers deliver Good Food Boxes Wednesday afternoon. Under normal circumstances, your box should arrive between noon and 2:00. Please note that we cannot guarantee an exact delivery time.
Drivers will only try to deliver once. If you are not home, please note on your order form where to leave it. Drivers will try to tuck it out of sight, but there will be no refunds for people who didn't answer.
When do I pick-up my box?
Pick-up your box every Wednesday. (See the schedule at the top right-hand corner of this page)
The Fernwood Community Centre’s pick-up happens between 1:30pm and 8:30pm at 1240 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria.
Our
partner pick-up locations each have their own pick-up policies.
Click here for specific information about each location.
Can I make a special request for my box?
One way we keep our prices low is by picking the produce for you. We cannot accommodate special requests of box content. When ordering, we focus on what is in season and is available at the best price closest to home.
Do you have specific delivery or pick up times?
We do not have specific delivery times for any location. Under normal circumstances Good Food Boxes can be picked up Wednesday afternoon. We try our best to be on time, but calling ahead to your pick up location may be best to avoid any missed pick up times.
Home deliveries are made by volunteer drivers, who sometimes have last minutes conflicts that can delay delivery.
Bring a cloth bag to get your vegetables home safely
The Good Food Box works hard to reduce waste, and we try to make packaging choices that are less damaging for the environment. We have selected heavy-duty recycled paper bags with that are manufactured in Richmond. These bags are recyclable—and they make great liners for your counter-top compost catcher.
But when it rains, they are about as strong as…a wet paper bag.
And it is not just when it rains. Broccoli often comes packed in crushed ice. Lots of the local vegetables have been recently harvested and washed, and are still damp. Cool vegetables sometimes form condensation. All of this can add up to a weakened bag—and we want your Good Food Box to get home safely.
Please bring a cloth bag when you pick up, just in case.
Can I pre-order boxes for upcoming weeks?
Yes. We now have the option to Buy a Bunch with a prepaid standing order. You are able to select any box or boxes that you would like to receive weekly or biweekly. The choice is yours – the only rule is that you order $100.00 minimum. Plus, home delivery, as always, is an option at the Pay What You Can rate of $3-$5 for up to 3 boxes per an address.
It is a little harder to organize this with pandemic protocols, so please email info@fernwoodnrg.ca
Why is my Good Food Box not the same every week?
We buy the best value available in the market, and that changes from season to season and week to week.