The second phase of Gather’s pilot period is drawing to a close. With winter approaching and local produce harder to come by, the team have paused business to review the learning gained and re-imagine how the hub will evolve in the future.
Gather was launched during the summer of 2024 supported by government funding, to find the infrastructure solutions to make local, seasonal food more accessible to the community.
The Gather hub which is part of the FoodFutures Partnership, has been inviting residents of North Lancashire to be part of a new food movement by buying and eating local, seasonal produce, minimising food miles and supporting enterprises who work in harmony with nature, improving the environment and supporting everyone’s health and resilience.
Thank you to Gather’s trailblazing customers
Ellen Pearce from LESS CIC, Gather’s project lead, said: “Gather opened in 2024 with fantastic support and positivity from the community and over the past year, we have received lots of positive feedback and encouragement so there is clear evidence that the community wants the hub and all its producers to succeed.
However, there is a huge challenge to transform this into an ongoing business that will be dependent on finding an appropriate base and an efficient way to expand logistics in line with increasing sales. ’
One of the aims of the pilot was to understand the detail of the infrastructure requirements needed locally to bring small-scale producers closer to their customers. The phase has delivered lots of learning, particularly with regard to the logistics of local food deliveries and customers have been brilliant allies and collaborators in the trial.
Valuable learning to help local producers survive and thrive.
Local producers are facing ever-increasing challenges and cannot compete with the large supermarkets on price, range or convenience. They also struggle with more frequent severe weather events directly impacting their production capacity as well as the effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
The insights gained from the trial will help us move to a localised food system ensuring every penny stays in the community supporting the viability of locally produced, high quality, healthy food as well as providing employment and benefits to the environment.
You can still sign up to the Gather email and stay in touch with developments.
There are more ways to get involved to support the transition to a better, and more resilient food system. Explore the opportunities here.
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