The quiet food movement taking over the ACT one grocery shop at a time
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Grocery shopping in the ACT has had a glow up with the introduction of 15 Box Divvy neighbourhood food hubs as families seek fresher food, stronger community connections and greater support for Australian growers.
Located in suburban garages, driveways and carports, one of those Hubs is run by Kristina Terzic from her home in Kambah.
“We wanted access to fresher, better quality food for our family, we care deeply about supporting Australian farmers, and we loved the idea of making healthy, seasonal food more accessible within our local community,” she explains.
“The flexibility fits around our family and homeschooling lifestyle, and Friday pick-up has become a genuine highlight of our week. Our members share recipes, tips and jokes, our children know everyone’s names, and it’s become so much more than collecting fruit and vegetables.”
Kristina Terzic in her home in Kambah.
Kristina is one of 15 ACT Box Divvy Hubsters – a member of a free-to-join community food network that enables members to collectively purchase fresh produce and pantry staples from trusted growers and suppliers, prioritising Australian produce wherever possible.
Running weekly neighbourhood food hubs from home couldn’t be easier. Each week members order their groceries online before collecting them from a local hub, just like Kristina’s.
Hubsters earn an income coordinating the weekly orders and collections and by combining hundreds of individual orders, Box Divvy delivers fresher produce, competitive prices and greater transparency about where food comes from.
The ACT network has grown rapidly since the first Hubs opened in 2022, seeing more than 650 families now collecting their weekly groceries from 15 neighbourhood food Hubs.
Box Divvy has also expanded into nearby NSW communities, with Hubs in Queanbeyan, Googong and Royalla, bringing the broader network to more than 800 families as interest in the model continues to grow across the region.
The people behind the Hubs come from all walks of life. For retired public servant Lesley Mackay, who runs two Box Divvy Hubs in Duffy, better nutrition became a priority after a couple of health scares. She says that becoming a Hubster has not only made healthy eating easier but also given her purpose and a strong sense of community in retirement.
“It’s given me purpose, introduced me to people I would probably never have met, and helped me maintain the healthy lifestyle that’s important to me,” she explains.
It’s lovely seeing friendships develop as people discover they have something in common beyond collecting their groceries. For me, that’s one of the nicest parts of being a Hubster.”
Louise Harry runs a Box Divvy Hub in Evatt.
Louise Harry, who runs a Box Divvy Hub in Evatt, was intrigued by the idea of a model that promised better quality food while also benefiting growers.
“I was intrigued by the model of better-quality fresh food that was cheaper than the supermarkets yet somehow also benefitted the farmers more,” she says.
“It seemed too good to be true, so I had to try it for myself by first becoming a member. I loved it so much that I applied to become a Hubster a week later.”
Louise says her members consistently tell her they value supporting Australian growers, the freshness and quality of the produce, using less plastic, and the convenience of planning their meals around a weekly order.
“It also makes life easier having a local pick-up point, and because you’re ordering what you need each week, you’re far less tempted by all the things you didn’t intend to buy at the supermarket,” she adds.
Box Divvy founder Anton van den Berg believes the model has struck a chord with people across the ACT because it reflects values already important to many households.
“We’ve found people are looking for a different way to buy their groceries,” he says. “They like knowing where their food comes from, supporting Australian growers and being part of something that brings people together.”
The ACT network forms part of Box Divvy’s rapid national expansion, with locations in Amaroo, Duffy, Evatt, Fraser, Giralang, Higgins, Holt, Kaleen, Kambah, Monash, Pialligo, Scullin and Watson, with nearby NSW locations in Googong, Queanbeyan West and Royalla.
Residents interested in joining a local Box Divvy Hub or learning more about becoming a Hubster can visit boxdivvy.com.
Feature image: Lesley Mackay, who runs two Box Divvy Hubs in Duffy.
