One positive to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is that Australians have taken to the roads to explore their own backyards a little more.
Some camp, others stay in motels and those who have them, caravan.
But, one thing we often don’t think about is how sustainably we collect and consume food on our travels.
In a bid to form an industry that champions sustainability, two Newcastle-based companies have come together to create food boxes that are perfect for travelling.
Australia’s most sustainable online grocery offering Your Food Collective creates the boxes while Camplify, the country’s largest caravan, campervan and motorhome sharing community, supports the business and shares their message of sustainability with its travelers.
All sourced directly from the farms of local producers, the “taste of freedom” collection includes: all the makings for a perfect campfire breakfast and a simple fresh lemony trout pasta.
“It is incredibly important to eat sustainably because it is better for us nutritionally and one of the most powerful ways we can improve our environmental impact,” Your Food Collective co-founder Lauren Branson said.
“Plus, it just tastes better and it feels good.
“When you are out camping or caravanning you can come back to what’s really important, and that’s simple and local sustainable ingredients.
“The more of us who can get out and explore, the more appreciation we will have for the effort that goes into growing it.
“We are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to get through the week and save the planet.
“By partnering with Camplify we’re helping people [do that].”
Former The Block favourites and travel lovers Karstan and Maxine Smith love to take the boxes on their road trips.
“We try to keep it really simple when it comes to cooking on the road, and we always look to support local producers as we drive through towns,” Max said.
“The getaway favourites from Camplify and Your Food Collective are ideal, as we know where the food comes from and it also makes cooking on the road so much more convenient, not to mention, extremely delicious,” Karstan added.
Lauren says they have a variety of options to suit everyone’s needs, from breakfast boxes, fruit and vegetable collections to more fancy offerings like boxes that include cheese, olives and crackers.
Camplify CEO Justin Hales said the partnership was a “no-brainer”.
“Your Food Collective believes in everything we wish to communicate to van owners and holidaymakers alike,” he stated.
“Our hope is that the [boxes] that have been created inspire people to live on fresh, delicious food that has been grown on healthy land as they road trip.
“We want to encourage those who book through Camplify to consider where the food they eat comes from and the impact it has on the world.
“This starts with partnering with businesses whose mission it is to educate people on how they can accessibly do their bit for the environment as individuals.”
For Aussies eager to hit the road and enjoy local produce, you can book your wheels on the Camplify website and shop the travel boxes on the Your Food Collective website.