Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the Collective work?
We’ve made connections with lots of local producers who are growing organic, pesticide free produce. We buy in bulk quantities so that you can then access these products, packaging free, at a great price. We take orders through an online shop for monthly collection days, where you bring your own containers to pick up your order. - When is your online shop open?
You can buy from us through the Open Food Network. Our shop is open for an ‘order cycle’ each month. The shop usually opens the Friday after our distribution day – this gives us time to stocktake and add any new products. It is usually open until the Wednesday morning before a distribution day. We sell perishable goods – bread, eggs, coffee – that need to be ordered each month, so we need to close the orders a few days before collection to give us time to put those orders in and have them delivered. Sign up to our mailing list and follow us on Facebook or Instagram for reminders about when the shop is opening and closing. - Can I order more than once in the same month?
Yes! That’s no problem. Don’t feel like you have to remember everything all at once – you can put in multiple orders to collect on the one distribution day. - Who runs the Collective?
We have a small but dedicated committee of volunteers running the organisation. We are an incorporated not-for-profit and follow the Model Rules set out by Consumer Affairs.
We can always use more skills and faces on the Committee. It’s a rewarding way to make a contribution to your community and the issues around food security. You may be a full member and attend our fortnightly meetings, or help us out with a particular project. Get in touch if you’d like to know more about how we operate and are considering helping out. - Do you need help to run the distribution days?
Yes! Our distribution days need volunteers to help out setting up, serving customers, and packing away. Our Collective is about bringing high-quality, affordable and local food to the community, but it’s also about that last word – community. We want our customers to be part of what we do, and we can promise that helping out is a fun and rewarding experience. If you enjoy the produce we make available we’d really appreciate your help at 1-2 distribution days a year, otherwise we mightn’t have enough people available on the day to keep the session running smoothly. You’ll see requests for help in our newsletters and on socials, as well as sign-up forms at the sessions. Please think about a Sunday when you’ve got a couple of hours to spare and get in touch! - Are all your products available to buy unpackaged?
As much as possible we make our produce available without packaging so that you can fill your own containers. Miso comes in its own jar, which we ask that you return when it is empty. Our full packs of tortillas come vacuum sealed; the smaller units of 250g are available without packaging. The chocolate from Melbourne Bush Foods is wrapped: they are printed with soy-based ink, and the ‘plastic’ inner lining is 100% biodegradable and derived from corn-starch. - What contact details do you record?
When we receive your order, the confirmation includes your phone number. This is the number we will use to SMS you a reminder of the collection day, and the number we will use to follow up if there is any issue on the day. When you sign up to our mailing list we keep your name, email address, and suburb if you provide it. - Why do I need to sign up to the Open Food Network?
We use the Open Food Network to manage our inventory and orders. The network allows producers (the farmers), providers (such as us) and customers to all use the same tool to share details of their products, take orders and safely transact. You can create an account with the Open Food Network to order through us, or you can check out as a guest. We’re happy to answer any questions you have about how the ordering system works. - What if I can’t make it on collection day?
Life doesn’t always go to plan – we know that. If you can’t make it, please let us know. Reply to the reminder text, or send us an email. If you have fresh produce in your order – bread, coffee, pastries or eggs – we can try to deliver them to you on the same day, or give you an address to pick up from. Your dry goods will be available to collect the following month.
Still got questions?
Email us or message us via our Facebook or Instagram pages and we’ll get back to you ASAP.