Local Winter Veg Boxes Thanks to a Unique Collaboration – Groene Pluk

Big and Small Farmers Join Forces

In Flevoland and the surrounding provinces, larger arable farms and smaller community gardens are joining forces. For the first time, they are offering winter vegetable boxes together: locally grown, organic and seasonal. The initiative was made possible through a collaboration between nine community gardens and two arable farmers from Flevoland.

9 community gardens

75 winter shares

Start: first week of December

This collaboration strengthens the short supply chain. Where arable farmers typically supply wholesalers, they are now connecting directly with local growers and nearby consumers. This year, residents can collect seasonal, local vegetables through a winter subscription at the pick-your-own garden Groene Pluk.

Sign up by 31 October

Via groenepluk.nl, while shares are available.

Collection

Once every two weeks, starting in the first week of December.

What’s in the Veg Box

On average, 8 different types of vegetables per pick-up.

Biologisch & Lokaal

Fresh from the field and from chilled storage – close to home.

Mutual Benefits

For community gardens, this means they can offer members a varied box throughout winter. For arable farmers, it creates a shorter line to the consumer and reduces dependence on wholesalers. That helps build trust in local farming and increases the visibility of regional crops.

Eating Local All Year Round

The winter boxes include an average of eight types of vegetables, partly harvested from the field and partly from chilled storage. Think kale, red cabbage, pumpkin, beets, onions, potatoes and endive. The boxes are available via a winter subscription through the participating community gardens, allowing members to fill their bags every two weeks with fresh, organic produce from nearby.

This initiative shows how collaboration between farmers, growers and citizens contributes to a stronger, fairer and future-ready food system – exactly what projects like FOODCITYBOOST stand for.

Sign Up for the Veg Box

You can sign up via groenepluk.nl. This winter, 75 winter shares are available. Registration is open, while shares last, until 31 October. The first winter harvest is planned for the first week of December.