By ANEEKA SIMONIS
BAYLES is brimming with nutritious vegies for hungry locals who have difficulty getting their hands on affordable, fresh food in their town.
Cardinia Shire Council has been supplying Bayles General Store with fruit and vegetables from the South East Food Hub as part of a four-week pilot program.
The council’s health promotion officer Steph Ashby said Bayles was considered a “food desert”, where residents have to travel a significant distant to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables.
“Due to its location, Bayles residents have restricted access to shops selling nutritious and affordable fresh food. Without access to fruit and vegetables, people are more likely to eat non-essential unhealthy food items, which can lead to higher risk of chronic lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as obesity,” she said.
“Only 3.4 per cent of Cardinia Shire adults eat the recommended serves of fruit and vegetables each day. The Bayles General Store was eager to help improve the health of their community and agreed to stock fruit and vegetables for four weeks on a trial basis.”
General store shop assistant Kim Robinson said potatoes, pumpkins, eggplants, tomatoes and cucumbers were among some of the fresh food items delivered to the store as part of the program which kicked off around Monday 16 March.
“The prices are very competitive and they are locally grown which is wonderful,” she said.
The pilot program, which supplies fresh foods grown in Kooweerup, Labertouche and Pearcedale, is due to end on Tuesday 14 April but there is hope the store will continue stocking fresh fruit and vegetables for the Bayles community.
“We would love Bayles residents to get behind their health by supporting the pilot and the general store. If the pilot is successful, the store will continue stocking vegetables and fruit, with the council’s support,” Ms Ashby said.
The pilot program forms part of council’s Health Together Cardinia Shire initiative to improve the health of the community.
