A new community-driven initiative is set to bring fresh, locally grown food closer to Te Puke residents.

However, organisers say they need more growers and makers to get it off the ground.

Supported by Te Puke Maketu Kai Resilience Group and led by Nina Vergnes from The Daily Café, the proposed Te Puke Farmers Market is taking a fresh approach to the traditional farmers’ market model.

Still in the final planning stages, the project combines the idea of a weekly physical market with a mobile, order-and-collect system designed to better suit the region.

“We feel like we’re very close to launching,” Vergnes said.

“Now it’s about making sure we have enough growers and makers involved to make it work.”

The mobile concept is inspired by a successful rural model in Southland, where produce is collected from local suppliers and delivered to community “hubs” for pick-up.

Longwood Loop in western Southland works as an online ordering platform and uses a delivery van system to pull together produce from multiple local producers.

With the ‘paddock-to-plate’ model, customers order online, then get a combined delivery.

Run by volunteers, it’s often described as a ‘farmers market delivered to your door’ because it bundles different producers into one order and one drop-off route.

Produce range can include fresh milk, cheeses, meat cuts, eggs, vegetables, and small-batch goods such as honey and preserves.

Vergnes said under the Te Puke van and hub delivery model, customers would also place orders online, then collect their goods from nearby locations or hubs across the area – from the township to surrounding communities such as Pukehina and Pongakawa.

“The idea is that people don’t have to travel far – less than 10km – either to drop off their produce or to collect their shopping,” Vergnes said.

Organisers are working through logistics, including identifying suitable hub locations such as community halls, schools or local properties, while building a network of suppliers.

The system wouldn’t run public stalls but would operate on weekly routes and online pre-orders.

So far, about 10-15 growers and makers have expressed interest, but more were needed to ensure a strong and sustainable offering.

Growers and makers interested in being part of the Te Puke Farmers Market can get in contact with Nina Vergnes by email on: nina@thedaily.org.nz or drop in to see her at the Daily Café.