And the winner is.......!

Congratulations to Jane of Wyong who won a FREE FIG BOX this week in the Wyong Co-op's First Birthday Draw!

Each year, on FIG's birthday, we hold a draw, and it's almost hard to believe we have been at our Wyong venue for a whole year but there you go, we have.

If you would like to come and chat to us about organising a FIG box, have a look at the extensive extras table and hear about the fortnightly bulk fruit orders we place (for families who eat a lot of fruit or want extra potatoes, or for those who juice regularly or drink smoothies), then the Wyong hours are 3.00pm until 4.30 pm on Tuesdays in Room 5 at the Wyong Neighbourhood Centre in Wyong (map here).

We're also at Ourimbah on Mondays (except for public holidays) from 2.30pm until 5pm at the Bill Sohier Community Centre, Ken Cook Way, Ourimbah (map here).

It's FIG's third birthday at Ourimbah in February so we shall be holding another draw then. Although we have seen a lot of new members walk through the doors in that time, we still have many of the originals who continue to support the co-op and the local organic farmers, ordering their weekly or fortnightly FIG box containing organic or guaranteed chemical free produce grown locally*.

Plans for 2012 include a farm tour and workshops for members in Cheese Making, Preserving, and Sourdough Bread Making.

See you soon at the co-op...





* At times, depending on the season and what the local farmers are growing, we may need to top up from the Sydney markets to fill your box. Carrots are simply not grown locally and many of our members want fruit included, of which very little is grown locally - except for an abundant supply of beautiful citrus of course!

Welcome to the New Year

FIG is back on deck today after a short break and will be found at the usual venues today and tomorrow at Ourimbah and Wyong.

With this weather, plants are practically jumping out of the ground and the local farmers have a good supply, particularly as their Sydney markets don't resume until later this month.

We are very happy to hear that Ed, a farmer in his 80's from Mangrove Mountain, has just been certified organic for the very first time - woohoo! It's quite a process, although becoming slightly easier we're told, and shows it's never too late and you're never too old for new ventures in your life. We're very excited at this news.

Incorporation has just come through as well so FIG will soon be known as the Food Integrity Group Co-operative Limited. We have received a swag of documentation about it to plough through and shall be required to hold a special meeting within the next couple of months and then, hopefully, it will be official!! FIG members will be kept informed via email and notices at the co-op.

This week we're taking orders for the beautiful certified organic Russian garlic - it's the one with the big, milder, cloves which also goes under the name of Elephant Garlic. Grown up on the north coast of NSW, we place orders this week for delivery soon. Members see us today or tomorrow for ordering, or email the form back you were sent over the weekend by Tuesday night at the latest - thanks.

2012 - "twenty-twelve" - and Year of the Farmer in Australia, is going to be a year of moving for FIG; we've yet to find suitable new venues for each of our co-ops however will be concentrating our efforts on this as if FIG is to become more efficient and to grow, larger venues must be found, with room for storage and refrigerators at our Monday venue.

We look forward to seeing you all again as you drift back from Summer holidays and remind you that FIG operates with volunteers to keep the wheels turning, so please write your names up on the roster in the red folder at the main desk.

See you at the co-op!

Maree