Organic food co-op serves up success

Brown Owl Organics' Jenny Lux (left), Wendy Boyd, Janine Cotter, Janene Edwards, Shelley Gifford, Jenny Vermeulen and baby Michaela. Photo / Ben Fraser

With enough passion and good intent, Janine Cotter believes anything is possible.

Proof is Rotorua's organic co-op Brown Owl Organics, which has grown from tiny beginnings, run in her garage by her and a friend, to an operation that now supplies food to more than 100 Rotorua members, thanks to almost a dozen volunteers.

Mrs Cotter began Brown Owl five years ago and it has just ticked over the 100-member mark.

"It started in my garage at home with a passion of providing affordable food for Rotorua families."

The not-for-profit incorporated society works with people paying a yearly membership, which allows them to purchase the produce at a discounted cost.

"It has grown from a passion of organic food. It was always just a dream."

Mrs Cotter said the group had faced plenty of challenges over the years, including having to find a registered kitchen to work from, and many people saying it would never work.

"People were saying: why would you want to do it? But I just did it. The challenges made the members stronger, because they still wanted it. It became more than just a garage operation and has propelled us into the future."

She said awareness around food, and where it came from, was growing and the majority of people who ordered through Brown Owl did so because they wanted "safe food" without chemicals and pesticides.

The next step was encouraging more locals to grow produce to supply the co-op, while the longer term dream is to open up a shop supplying produce.

-To find out more, go to www.brownowl.nz.

How it works

* People can join up by paying a $30 yearly membership.

* Each Friday, a list of available produce is sent out for the following week and members can place an order.

* Each Wednesday, produce is delivered to the base and
volunteers pack orders.

* Produce is delivered to pick-up points or homes.