Box Divvy Narraweena - Birinta

21/09/2025

Food for Thought

“Unhealthy food environments are contributing to the worldwide surge in overweight and obesity in children and adolescents”, according to a report by UNICEF.

As a result, obesity among children and adolescents is now more prevalent than underweight, with nearly one in 10 children aged 5-19 classed as obese, according to a separate UNICEF report.

In Australia, around 36% of 5-19 years olds are either obese or overweight – but in parts of the Pacific region, the rate is more than 50%.

Much of the global increase is attributed to aggressive marketing of cheap ultra processed food and drinks.

How much exposure do children get when shopping in supermarkets?

13/09/2025

Food for Thought
Biodiversity Month and Sustainable Food

September is Biodiversity Month - a time to raise awareness, inspire action, and champion practices that support environmental, social and economic wellbeing. Biodiversity isn’t just wildlife “out there”; it’s the bees that pollinate our crops, the rich soils that hold water and nutrients, and the mix of plant and animal species that keep farms resilient. In short, healthy ecosystems make dinner possible.

Our everyday choices help. Choosing seasonal, Australian/local and low-waste foods cuts food miles, supports growers who care for their land, and reduces what ends up in bin trucks. Saying yes to “funny-looking” fruit and veg, storing food well, and composting scraps all protect the same systems that feed us. Through Box Divvy, buying what’s in season keeps prices fair and backs regional farmers; sharing extras via the Kindness Box means less waste and more good food in our community.

As a community, Box Divvy backs practical, long-term habits: know where your food is grown and by whom; plan meals; cook and eat together - and don’t let the compost bin become a personal landfill. Reducing food waste can feel daunting, but the fix starts in our own kitchens.

06/09/2025

Food for Thought

If you’ve been wondering why your supermarket-bought avocado is already brown, here are 2 reasons why:
They have been gassed with ethylene to speed up the ripening. Research has shown that many people want their avocado ready to eat today. However, the gassing makes them go over-ripe pretty quickly, so you’ll need to eat them like…now. They’re gone tomorrow.
To find that ready-to-eat avocado, 97% of shoppers will on average squeeze 3 avocadoes – and that has the same effect as dropping them: they bruise.

Little wonder that supermarkets are on the lookout for technology to help reduce the amount of prodding in their stores – and Tesco in the UK may have found it: an infrared avocado scanner. This is how it works: you pick up an avocado, hold it in front of the scanner – and check the ripeness. If not ripe enough, put it back and pick up the next one. Keep going until you find the perfect avocado.
Wait - if all shoppers do that, then every avocado will have been picked up – on average – 3 times??

Keep buying avocadoes from Box Divvy: a less bruising experience.

24/08/2025

15/08/2025

Food for Thought

September is National Sustainability Month.
Actually, it’s officially called National Biodiversity Month – but the 2 are clearly interlinked. At Box Divvy, we care about sustainability:
Low food miles by prioritising local growers and producers
Minimal packaging, re-using boxes and minimising food waste
Ranging products that make it easier to be sustainable
Over the next 6 weeks, we will put these products into the spotlight – as well as bringing you new products, such as this week’s marine-grade stainless steel clothes pegs that will last a lifetime.

08/08/2025

Food for Thought

We all know that unprocessed foods are better than ultra processed food – not only for your physical health but also for mental health.
Now there is hard evidence that just switching from UPFs to unprocessed foods – making your meals from scratch – will help you lose weight, even when matching calories. Over an 8-week period, the calorie-adjusted weight loss was 2% off their baseline weight for those on the unprocessed food diet. That may not sound like much, but…they ate the same number of calories, and – according to the researchers – this could scale up to 9% for women and 13% for men over a full 12-month period. (We reckon that might be a bit of a long bow, as it assumes the rate of weight loss stays the same of the year – but still…).

If you are a heavy consumer of artificially-sweetened soft drinks, we might have some bad news: a can a day will increase the chance of getting Diabetes Type-2 by 38% - even more so than by drinking a can of sugar-laden soft drinks a day (23%). This is one of the findings from a study released last week by Monash University. The study did not specify what type of artificially-sweetened beverages were covered – it was based on a self-reporting sample of nearly 25,000 people – so it’s unclear whether pre- and probiotics such as Remedy Kombucha and Sodaly would quality as an artificially-sweetened soft drink – they contain ‘natural’ sweeteners (organic erythritol and stevia). However, other studies have suggested that diet drinks can feed our body’s cravings for sweet, so even if the drinks themselves may not necessarily contribute to diabetes, they do so indirectly.
Perhaps try some of our new Fever Tree Mixers: they are sweetened naturally, but only contain 4-5% sugar – less than half than the amount of sugar contained in Coca Cola.
Regardless, we strongly suggest to treat any flavoured beverage as an occasional treat: water should be our go-to drink for regular hydration.

03/08/2025

Limit the amount of fruit for kids?? Not really

“We do need to reduce kids’ sugar consumption. But this needs to be achieved by reducing their intake of processed foods that contain added sugars, rather than fruit”, says Dr Nick Fuller, health expert and author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids.

In this article in The Conversation, he argues that the Australia’s Nutritional Guidelines are outdated as more research suggests that higher (fresh) fruit consumption is associated with lower levels of obesity and diabetes type-2. “The insoluble fibre in fruit skins also helps kids stay regular, and the soluble fibre in fruit flesh helps keep their cholesterol in a healthy range, absorbing “bad” cholesterol to reduce their long-term risk of stroke and heart disease”, says Fuller.

26/07/2025

Food for Thought
Seed Oils: It’s More About the Process and the Company They Keep
From time to time, members and Hubster write to us and suggest we should ban seed oils from our product range. Alas, the seed oil issue – often pushed by online influencers and RFK Jr – is not entirely black and white, as we’ll see below.

A new study suggests that seed oils rich in linoleic acid—like sunflower, soybean and canola—may actually lower inflammation and help reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But before you rush out to buy just any bottle, it's worth noting: how the oil is made matters. Cold-pressed or expeller-pressed oils, such as the Plenty Oils ranged by Box Divvy, retain more nutrients and avoid the chemical solvents often used in industrial oil extraction. Choosing minimally processed oils makes a big difference to both taste and health benefits.

Seed oils have been getting a bad rap lately, mostly because they’re common in ultra-processed foods (UPFs)—the real problem. Many UPFs are loaded with salt, sugar, additives and poor-quality fats, making it easy to blame the seed oil when it’s the whole package that’s unhealthy. When used in moderation and sourced well, seed oils can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. Like most things, it's not the ingredient—it's how it's processed and what it’s paired with.

28/06/2025

Food for Thought

Is there a future for insect-based protein? Seventy-seven per cent of agricultural land is used to farm animals. That land accounts for just 17 per cent of the global food supply, and it’s increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. With the world population adding another 2 billion by 2050, and rising incomes able to purchase more meat and seafood, something got to give. Hence the interest in using insects for protein. However, “Public polling in the US and Europe has found that while as many as 91% of respondents would be willing to try plant-based “alternative meats”, only about 20% would consider eating insects”, according to a paper published in the Nature journal npj Sustainable Agriculture.

Perhaps it depends on how the protein is presented: consumers may not be so keen to munch on whole crunchy fried meal worms, but what about say cricket powder?

Sydney-based company Circle Harvest is forging ahead with enriching foods like corn chips, brownies and pasta with pulverised cricket protein. It grows its own crickets – several tonnes a month – which not only provide protein, but are also rich in calcium, iron, vitamin b12, zinc, magnesium and omega 3.

We think they’re worth checking out, so watch this space.

21/06/2025

Food for Thought

A UK study published this month shows that ‘only’ 31% of adults eat the recommended 5 serves of fruit and veg day – largely unchanged from previous years. Although the methodology and definitions are different, a comparable measure for Australian adults is almost certainly worse: whilst 44% ate the recommended 2 serves of fruit per day, only 6.5% ate the recommended 5 serves of veg per day. For NSW, the numbers are even worse – and the trend is not encouraging.

The reasons are many and varied:
- Fresh produce is expensive, and hard to access in some areas. Extreme weather – or even cold snaps like the one we’re having this month – regularly disrupt supply chains.
- Prepping and cooking vegies conflict with busy lifestyles and long work hours, which drive consumers towards ultra-processed, ready-to-eat foods and food delivery.
- Many people opt for ultra-processed, ready-to-eat foods over prepping and cooking veggies. Busy lifestyles, long work hours, and family demands reduce time to prepare fresh meals.
- Heavily marketed foods are often processed and low in fruit/veg. Fast food and snacks are more accessible and appealing, especially for children and teens.

Box Divvy is doing its bit by prioritising fresh produce and improving both affordability and accessibility: by the end of June, we expect to have 333 Hubs – a net increase of 37 Hubs since the start of January.

That being said: do we actually grow enough vegetables in Australia for all of us to meet our 5-serves-of-veg-a-day target? The answer is no, says a CSIRO report released this month. Well, how’s that for an eye opener? We’re not surprised though: as Box Divvy grows, we often run into supply challenges – from eggs to mushrooms – and part of the reason is the degree of concentration in both growing and retailing. A heavily centralised food system is more vulnerable to shocks such as extreme weather events, zoological pandemics (e.g. avian influenza) and imbalances in supply and demand.

13/06/2025

What Happens When Farmers Quit — And How Box Divvy Supports Them

Dairy farmers are not the only ones doing it tough. Did you know that across Australia, 34% of vegetable farmers are considering leaving the industry within the next year?
Rising costs, shrinking returns, and pressure from supermarkets are forcing many small farmers to hang up their boots. When growers quit, fresh local food becomes harder to find, prices go up, and communities lose vital connections to where their food comes from.
Adding to the challenge, climate change is hitting local growers hard. Unpredictable weather—droughts, floods, and heatwaves—makes farming riskier and less predictable. Crops can fail or produce less, while pests and diseases thrive in warmer conditions. These pressures increase costs and stress, sometimes forcing farmers to scale back or leave farming altogether.
For most communities, this means fewer fresh, local foods and rising prices.
Here’s the good news: as part of the Box Divvy community, you’re helping change that story.
The Box Divvy community are supporting these farmers by directly purchasing their products, build resilience by encouraging more sustainable farming and providing a steady income. Then farmers have a chance at adapting to climate changes and growing the food we all rely on.

How We Work With Our Farmers
At Box Divvy, we don’t just deliver food — we build genuine partnerships with the farmers who grow your produce. Here’s how we support them:
• Fair pay & honest prices: We pay prices that reflect the true cost of growing fresh, seasonal food, not the rock-bottom rates supermarkets often impose. This helps farmers cover their costs and keep farming sustainably.
• Collaborative seasonal planning: We work closely with growers throughout the year to plan crops based on what our community wants to eat. This reduces waste and means you get fresher, more delicious produce.
• Sustainability & care: We support farmers committed to environmentally friendly practices that protect soil, water, and pollinators — because healthy farms make healthier food.
• Open communication: We stay connected with farmers, sharing challenges like weather or pests and working together to find solutions that keep your box full and farms thriving.
Why This Matters to You
You might wonder if ethical eating fits your budget. The truth is, when you shop seasonally, support local growers, and reduce waste, you often save money compared to buying processed or imported food. Plus, you’re investing in a food system that values people, planet, and community.

Every Box Divvy order sends a powerful message to growers: “We see you, we value you, and we want you to keep growing.”

So next time you unpack your Box Divvy fresh fruit and veg, remember: it’s more than just food. It’s a lifeline for farmers, a boost for communities, and a way to eat ethically without breaking the bank.

Thank you for being part of this Unsupermarket movement!

10/06/2025

Inaugural National Pear Week: it’s building

National Pear Week in the newsOur first National Pear Week has had some traction:
Mirage Magazine published a piece
WIN TV in Shepparton featured our favourite apple and pear grower Selim Shaholli from Shaholli farms, as well as our resident expeart and Box Divvy co-founder Anton – talking about the reasons why pears have lost some popularity (and what we’re doing to restore them to their old glory).
Both Selim and Anton have featured on several radio stations in regional NSW and Victoria.
Other publications:
https://www.riverineherald.com.au/news/australians-need-to-back-the-fruit-thats-falling-through-the-cracks/
https://www.kyfreepress.com.au/news/australians-need-to-back-the-fruit-thats-falling-through-the-cracks/
https://www.sheppnews.com.au/news/australians-need-to-back-the-fruit-thats-falling-through-the-cracks/
https://www.southasiatimes.com.au/australia/national-pear-week-2-8-june-2025-connects-community-with-growers/
https://www.thechronicle.com.au/medianet?id=1027681?WebsiteId=100
https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2025/06/national-pear-week-urges-australians-to-back-the-fruit-thats-falling-through-the-cracks/103938/

If anyone is interested in those pearfect pear recipes: the website is still up.

National Pear Week Urges Australians to Back the Fruit That’s Falling Through the Cracks They’re juicy, low-GI, and packed with fibre. But behind the sweet simplicity of an Aussie pear lies a more sobering truth: many of Australia’s pear growers are fighting to survive. This National Pear Week...