A study from Western Sydney University and the University of Wollongong has found that fresh produce company, Box Divvy, is linked to better diets and significantly lower rates of food insecurity among its members.
As a third of Australian households face food insecurity, with 59 per cent of those experiencing the most severe level of hardship, supporting the food system across the country is critical. Companies like Box Divvy, a community-based food network operating across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, is helping people put fresh food on the table — and the impact is now backed by research.
Since starting out in early 2019, Box Divvy has grown to over 300 local Hubs across the region, connecting over 13,000 families with fresh produce and pantry staples, usually around 30 per cent cheaper than supermarkets.
Box Divvy co-founder, Anton van den Berg, said the team created Box Divvy so people could eat well without breaking the bank.
“This study shows that community-led models like ours really do make a difference – financially, nutritionally, and emotionally,” said van den Berg.
Research published in the journal Appetite surveyed more than 2200 Box Divvy members and found:
- Food insecurity dropped by nearly half after joining – from 51 per cent of survey respondents down to 28 per cent after joining
- Rates of severe food insecurity – where people skip meals or go hungry – fell by more than half
- People ate an average of 3.3 more serves of vegetables and 2.5 more serves of fruit each week
- Those facing the most financial stress before joining Box Divvy saw the biggest improvements
Lead author, Dr Katherine Kent, said younger people, single-parent households and those on lower incomes were among the most food insecure before joining Box Divvy – and also the most likely to benefit.
“That tells us that alternatives like Box Divvy are meeting a real need,” said Kent.
The findings come as food price inflation creeps up, grocery costs continue to impact household budgets, and ultra-processed foods become the fallback for many households trying to save. The researchers stated co-ops like Box Divvy remain overlooked in Australia’s food and health policies, despite the evidence of their benefits.
For further information, the full study is available here.
