How did you get involved in local food?

I spent a lot of my childhood helping my dad who was a gamekeeper on a large arable/orchard farm.

The farm and the farm next door were both heavily sprayed. The farmer next door was diagnosed with Leaukemia and unfortunately passed away. Shortly after I was also diagnosed with Leaukemia at the age of 10.

It was partly as a result of this experience that I was interested in investigating the food system and agroecology in more depth when I was at university. I did lots of reading, visited the Centre For Alternative Technology regularly and took part in organic gardening courses.

Although it wasn't really planned, after arriving back from our travels in India my partner and I started work at a market garden and box scheme and I haven't looked back since. I've now been working to produce and supply local food for over 20 years.

What's so great about running a box scheme?

Free food!:-)

I really enjoyed running box schemes because I got to work outdoors, it kept me fit, I got to work with good people and I really enjoyed getting to know all the lovely customers. Oh, and did I mention the great food!

What's the most challenging thing abut producing food to sell to the public?

Getting customer orders correct was always a challenge. Also, when we were buying produce in from other suppliers it increased the chances of veg quality issues - having to deal with low quality veg was always painful! Also colder months of the year - cold veg, cold hands and cold feet. Bank holiday weeks always proved logistically problematic too.

How did you get involved in Ooooby?

I was working at a box scheme in East Sussex and I ended up managing the onboarding process when we moved our system onto Ooooby in 2021. I loved the system and the ethos of Ooooby so when a role came up I jumped at the opportunity to get involved.

What do you do at Ooooby?

My official role is Hub Support.

I ensure that Ooooby's customers have a positive experience, addressing their questions and feedback in a timely and professional manner.

Because of my past experience, I'm familiar with products and services offered by box schemes so I can help integrate the system with the customer's requirements. 

In addition to responding to customer enquiries, I maintain accurate records of customer interactions and use that information to improve the service, including identifying common issues that customers are experiencing and working with the team to develop strategies for addressing them.

I also help with customer onboarding, which involves helping new customers navigate the sign-up process and get started using the platform. I work closely with customers to provide guidance and support throughout the onboarding process, from initial registration to their first successful transaction. 

I try to build strong relationships with customers, be patient and empathetic, as many customers won’t be familiar with the platform, or the technology involved. I try to be organised so I can manage multiple customer accounts at once, ensuring that each customer receives the attention and support they need to get started successfully.