A successful not-for profit social enterprise based in the Forest of Dean has proved so successful it is now looking to expand in the Ross-on-Wye area.

The Dean Forest Food Hub is as online business supplying high-quality, ethical and affordable local produce. It was created about four years ago, and has been growing ever since, now reaching 48 boxes per week on a regular basis. The produce includes everything from organic fruit and vegetables, milk, cheese, pasture-fed meat, home-baked cakes, to the ever-popular Netherend Farm Butter and Forest Bakehouse bread, as well as organic dry goods such as seeds and flour.

The Food Hub has worked hard to find local niches so as not to threaten other businesses in the area. Having learned from their experience so far, they know about everything from sourcing local producers, to bespoke systems for software and logistics. They would love to share all these resources with people in surrounding areas, including the potential to share a van. They have been looking outwards from the Forest towards the Ross and Newent areas. The Food Hub has arranged a public meeting on Tuesday, November 21st (from 7pm for tea and cake, main meeting starts at 7.30pm) at St. Mary’s Church Hall in Ross. People who are interested in a Ross/Newent Food Hub are encouraged to come along and find out more, whether they might be a potential producer, customer or volunteer.

The Dean Forest Food Hub was set up by volunteers, and has now reached a position where they can employ several part-time staff. Volunteers are still involved, and can get a 10% discount for taking part in the packing process. The Food Hub has proved such a popular model that it has to find a way to expand. If anyone can not make it to the meeting in Ross but would like to be kept informed, they can email on address: [email protected]