This week’s meet the producer focuses on how local businesses can become a producer
By Fiona Emberton
MAPLE Street Cooperative has been partnering with local growers and makers for over 45 years, using a consignment system to sell their home-grown produce and home-made products.
It’s a great way to provide fresh, local produce to the community while avoiding the typical transportation costs other shops have.
The Co-op can sell the products on behalf of the person consigning without them having to become an official supplier.
The producer has all the benefits of the Co-op’s 7-day trading, staff, and fridges/air-con and other equipment to look after the stock with the Co-op charging a percentage of the sale.
If the Co-op needs the stock and has the space, the consignor can set the price, with the shop staff providing advice on what would be the best level compared to other similar stock.
Before products are accepted by the Co-op, the consignors are vetted to ensure their goods have been produced in line with organic growing and ethical and environmental standards that have been in place for decades.
It’s a great co-operative model.
Not only is it a successful co-op full of reliable, fresh products, it’s also staffed with the best producers and members.
Kate Webbe is the Co-op’s resident nutritionist, who holds three health degrees in paramedicine, nursing and nutrition.
“The Maple Street Co-op is important to me because it is community owned, all the money goes back into the shop and the community. And it’s a supportive work environment,” Kate said.
“My areas of special interest in the co-op are the fresh produce, amazing health foods and high-quality supplements.”
Grace Anne is one of the Maple Co-op’s staff members, and prides herself on looking after their wonderful customers, and the quality and presentation of the Co-op’s products.
Maleny Hunny owner, Peter McMahon, is one of the Maple Co-op’s proud producers who supplies his sweet jars of goodness regularly.
He has been a beekeeper for 30 years and uses small-scale and holistic practices on his many hives between Reesville and Conondale.
A long-time member of the Sunshine Coast Beekeepers Association, his small-scale production leaves honey in the hives for winter, not needing to ‘feed’ the bees with supplement food and puts the same frames back after extraction.
Have a chat with the Co-op team about your produce and home-made items for sale.