Since 2000, LUSH Valley has grown from a small grassroots group of community volunteers to a 20-plus person team, touching the lives of nearly 5,000 people in the community each month.
Community support has always been key to LUSH Valley鈥檚 success 鈥� from spreading the word about the organization鈥檚 work to volunteering and donating, the Comox Valley community has come together to strengthen the local food system alongside LUSH since the beginning.
LUSH is celebrating its 25th birthday with a mission: to bring the community together to raise $25,000 by June 30, in honour of 25 amazing years of nourishing our community. Visit to donate today.
The organization is also working hard to grow its Good Food Box program in order to provide steady support to more than 40 Comox Valley farms. Since early spring, the community has rallied to increase Community Box order numbers from an average of seven per week to 70 per week, nearly meeting the organization鈥檚 goal of 100 Community Boxes per week.
To help LUSH Valley reach this goal, visit to order your Good Food Box today. At this point in the year, Good Food Boxes are packed with 99 per cent Comox-Valley grown produce 鈥� just waiting for local fruit to ripen (strawberries! blueberries!) to reach 100 per cent. Subscriptions are available so you can receive farm-fresh, local food weekly or bi-weekly throughout the summer.
The need for LUSH Valley鈥檚 subsidized food access programs is greater than ever. Rising food costs and a decrease in available grant funding have created a squeeze: with hundreds of households experiencing financial barriers to meeting their food needs, the waitlist for low- or no-cost Good Food Boxes has grown long. To support families in need, please consider or setting up a monthly donation at .
As Canadians have seen in the last few months, supporting local farmers is an important way to support our local economy and ensure our region is less vulnerable to emergencies. With the current geopolitical climate, the threat of trade wars and climate instability, now is the time to buy local and support Comox Valley farmers. Buying local food supports our farmers now so they can continue growing food for our community into the future.
Purchasing a Good Food Box is just one of many easy ways to support the Comox Valley food economy while staying budget-friendly and making sure your meals are delicious and nourishing. Try to do some grocery shopping at the or directly from farms. Learn more about growing, preserving, or preparing your food in the Facebook group or in one of LUSH Valley鈥檚 .
For more information about LUSH Valley, including details on Good Food Boxes, workshops, and their various community programs, visit .
