Liverpool Queen of Greens organic

What: Liverpool Queens of Greens is delivery a pilot enabling people living in low income communities to access organic fruit and vegetables from mobile grocer Queen of Greens. 

Where: Liverpool, England

Which of the six approaches does this pilot use:

• Local retail
• Vouchers
• Ethical Supply chains

Demonstrating:

• Difference in buying habits when organic available.
• Difference in uptake of Queen of Greens model when organic available.
• Sense of wellbeing as a result of access to organic fruit and veg.

Story: The Queen of Greens is a bus that has been specially adapted to be transformed into a mobile greengrocer to bring affordable fruit and veg to communities around areas of Liverpool and Knowsley that are underserved for fresh fruit and vegetables. Stopping at 40 locations, the bus serves over 700 people a week. Many, particularly people from diverse backgrounds, would like to buy organic but can’t afford it. So, Bridging the Gap is working with Manchester based wholesaler, Organic North to introduce organic fruit and veg onto the bus. The bus accepts Alexandra Rose vouchers and Healthy Start and Greengrocers Paul and Pete always greet customers with a cheery smile and offer advice on any produce.  

Queens of Greens have found in their consultations that people across Liverpool and Knowsley have an interest in accessing climate and nature friendly food but face barriers around access and cost.

The service now looks to bridge that gap two-fold:

• Providing access through the network of stops and community supply (supplying pantries and schools as well
• Using the funding to keep price parity with what people are currently paying for conventional produce and ‘trade them up’ to organic and agroecological. 

Faith Holland, Head of Operations at Alexandra Rose Charity says:

"It's fantastic that Queen of Greens has received funding to offer organic fruit and veg to their customers at no extra cost. Our Liverpool Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project works hand in hand with Queen of Greens to improve access to healthy fruit and veg. We’re excited that families receiving Rose vouchers will benefit from this new initiative that will also support local producers of healthy and sustainable food."

Melissa Campbell, Associate Director Public Health supports the pilot:

“The Queen of Greens is a fantastic initiative improving access to healthy, affordable fruit and vegetables in communities in Liverpool where access to healthy food is limited. Increasing this offer to include organic produce will encourage others to utilise the Queen of Greens from a climate perspective. Having such a varied offer available in the heart of our communities supports the goal of the Good Food Plan ensuring everyone in our City has access to healthy, nutritious, sustainable food.” 

Project partners:

• Feeding Liverpool
• Alchemic Kitchen CIC
• Organic North

Supporters:

• Alexandra Rose Charity