Hapori brings affordable fruit and veg to local communities

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Charlene Papara was one of many locals who came to the Victory Community Centre to pick up their Hapori Box.

A new initiative to bring locally grown produce to Nelson communities will save families money while making them feel ka pai.

Victory Community Centre, Nelson Marlborough Health, and the Nelson Environment Centre have teamed up for the new initiative Hapori Fruit & Veg Box.

Each $15 Hapori box contains fresh fruit and vegetables from local growers. The produce each week will vary depending on what is available in the region at the time.

Hapori boxes can be picked up from Victory Community Centre every Thursday. They must be ordered a week in advance.

Buying local has never been so important, and Nelson shoppers are being encouraged to splash their cash around the region.

* Nelson Marlborough Health adopts sustainability initiatives

* Free no-waste fruit and vege exchange taking off throughout New Zealand

Hapori was created with the aim of combating food insecurity for families, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board health promoter Aaryn Barlow said.

The goal of the Hapori initiative was to provide affordable “mana enhancing” healthy kai to whānau.

During lockdown, there was a great need for food security, Barlow said. This has become a bigger focus for the DHB.

“We've seen a need for healthy food that’s affordable and accessible.”

The produce was provided by the Nelson Environment Centre, who sourced the fruit and vegetables from local suppliers.

By sourcing food locally this meant the fruit and vegetables were fresher and their carbon footprint much lower than food transported from outside the region.

A Hapori Fruit and Veg box cost $15. When Barlow went to a local supermarket the same amount of produce cost $23.50.

This was 36 per cent cheaper than the same amount of food, Barlow said.

The programme was currently at its pilot stage, and was a “two-way” conversation with the community. The DHB was open for feedback and suggestions regarding the programme.

Nelson Market reopens for the first time in months after Covid-19 caused it to shut down.

Orders must be placed one week in advance, and people should bring bags to pack their fruit and vegetables in.

Currently residents of the suburbs Victory, Toi Toi, Bishopdale, and Washington Valley were encouraged to take part.

Those wanting to take part could register online via the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board’s website.

Charlene Papara picked up her Hapori box on Thursday October 28 at the programme’s opening.

Her grandchildren had attended Victory School, and she wanted to support the community, she said.

The Hapori Fruit & Veg Box registration form can be found here. Recipe ideas and storage advice can be found on Hapori’s Facebook page.