Tip #4 - Start a mini food co-op and buy in bulk

With a little careful organisation and some forward planning, starting a mini food co-op with your friends and family could save you loads!!

What is a food co-op?
It's a great way to cut your costs! By buying produce in bulk – both fresh food and dry goods – and splitting it up, you can save a lot of the money and effort that otherwise goes into the weekly shop.

Who can be in my co-op?
The closer together the members live, the easier it is to organise and divide so if you're friends with your neighbours or you have family and friends that live near by, start there!

How does a co-op work?
You will need to assign somebody to keep the accounts and manage the orders. Needless to say, this person must be diligent, committed and patient. Draw up a roster for buying, sorting and delivering. For example, in a group of two-dozen members, two people could do the shop from the market and another two could sort and distribute. Depending on the structure, this means each member may only be rostered on once a month or even less. As with any group, it's crucial that all the work does not fall to only a few people.

Where can I shop to save money for the co-op?
There are several places you can start when looking to buy bulk and at wholesale prices and I've listed a few of these below:

South Australia
Adelaide Produce Market - http://www.adelaidemarkets.com.au/
The Adelaide Central Market - http://www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au
Rite Price Grocery Warehouse - http://www.ritepricegroceries.com.au
Salty's Fish Market - 52-58 London Rd, Mile End South
Campbell's Cash and Carry - https://www.campbells.com.au/
Hills Market Kitchen - http://www.southaustralia.com/9007828.aspx
Barossa Farmers Market - http://www.barossafarmersmarket.com/
Willunga Farmers Market - http://www.willungafarmersmarket.com/
Limestone Coast Farmers Market - http://www.southaustralia.com/9005864.aspx
Riverland Farmers Market - http://www.riverlandfarmersmarket.org.au/
Organic & Sustainable Market - http://www.organicsustainablemarket.com.au/

If you're looking for markets interstate, simply Google; Farmer Market, Groceries Clearance, Groceries Wholesale, Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale, Markets

You are bound to find what you're looking for!!

Do I have to start my own co-op?
Contact your local Council and query with them whether there is already a co-op operating in your area that you can join, otherwise check the following links to see what you can find:

Thoughtful Foods - http://thoughtfulfoods.org.au/links
Friends of the Earth - http://www.foe.org.au/campaigns/sustainable-food/links/food-co-ops-in-australia/
SA Community - http://sacommunity.org/thesaurus/13673-Food_Cooperatives

If you can't find one that fits with you, then start your own! Remember, to start out small and aim to get bigger as time goes on. For tips on how to run a larger scale co-op visit http://www.ehow.com/how_2092459_start-food-coop.html

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has their own co-op or is part of a co-op.