A little while ago I bought a book on the recommendation of a friend and I know it’s going to sound corny, but reading that book has actually changed my life!!! The book - Imperfectly Natural Woman, the Author - Janey Lee Grace. For those of you who read my personal blog (guinchogirl.com), you’ll know I’ve been raving about the blessed thing for weeks now! In short, the book is full of tips on how to live your life in the most healthy, happy and eco-friendly way, (the perfect stuff) whilst still contending with the ‘imperfect’ stuff that day-to-day life throws at you.

Janey also has a website, including discussion forums based on the topics in the book. Discussion on the forums has inspired two of the forum members to start a bulk buying network for healthy and organic produce. Sarah and Nikki (aka Soapnutter and Dottyspots on Janey’s forum) have identified a need for healthy and organic foods at more reasonable prices. Many people would like to buy and eat more organic produce but unfortunately it is priced out of their budget. These prices can be achieved to some extent by buying in bulk, but suppliers will often charge a minimum order of around £250. That’s an awful lot of food!

So, Sarah & Nikki have designed a system where by groups of people can buy healthy & organic produce in bulk, by grouping their orders together to meet the minimum spend amount. The groups buy through an agent dedicated to their area, who places the orders with Donnynutters.co.uk - Sarah & Nikki’s hub for the network.

Orders are placed at wholesale prices + 10% admin charge. Orders and payment are sent to Sarah and Nikki, who will collate the orders into areas and then organise into one large order with the wholesaler. There is an online pricelist and ordering system at Donnynutters.co.uk.

The admin charge covers the following:

5% to go to a local agent who will take delivery of the grouped order for their area and act as a collection point for the group order for their area. Agents will be classed as self-employed so responsible for their own tax.

3% to go to Sarah and Nikki to cover their costs organising the network.

2% to go to Janey to help cover her costs in running her wonderful forum.

At the moment the network is embryonic with 7 agents so far covering Aberdeen, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Devon (North), Devon (Mid), Heartfordshire and the Cambridge/Newmarket area. With interest building steadily for the bulk buying network, more agents are expected to be joining, myself included. Currently there are no agents for Brighton (East Sussex/West Sussex border) area and I know of a large number of people who will be interested in what the network has to offer.So once I’ve got a few things sorted, I plan to become an agent myself.

This is an important event in the organic/healthy food industry and I can’t wait for more people to get involved. More and more people are becoming conscious of what they put in to and on to their bodies and of their effect on the world; as the interest in Janey’s book and forums clearly demonstrates. These people will increase an ever growing demand for healthy and organic foods and hopefully this will help to bring prices down too.

What's Next?	Enjoyed this? You'll love:
Get EB daily free in your email  Subscribe via our RSS feed  Leave a comment and have your say	Eating Britain Food Forums! Tesco cuts organic prices New potatoes with bacon and spinach Organic Fortnight 2nd - 17th September Food Poisoning Issues