Local food for Helsinki locals!

Next weekend, on 26-27 November 2011, a shop on wheels will be driving around Helsinki loaded with organic and local foods.

The novel idea is being run by the Herttoniemi Organic Food Collective, which also operated a pop up village store selling local and organic goods in Herttoniemi in September.

The food collective was established on the back of the Herttoniemi Food Circle, which started in 2010. Having started as a group of likeminded friends, the food circle has gained around 300 members in just under a year. Members make food orders by email and can pick up their produce once a week. Organic products are ordered directly from producers without middle men or food wastage.

The Herttoniemi Organic Food Collective consists of around 200 members who grow root vegetables, greens and herbs on a rented field in Korso, Vantaa. The collective employs a gardener, but most of the work is done voluntarily by the members.

Now, citizens have been able to participate in advance in the ‘Village Shop on Wheels’ project by marking the desired stops for the van on a map. The route was planned accordingly and was published on 20 November. The timetable can be viewed here (in Finnish).

“The shop on wheels will contain a comprehensive selection of organic and local delicacies, including organic beef, organic homemade dishes, jams, dried mushrooms, organic root vegetables, raw milk, organic dried herbs, local food cookbooks and organic potatoes,” says Olli Repo from the Herttoniemi Food Circle.

Check on the map whether the shop on wheels will come near you and pop by for some local food shopping!