Bright Food Co-op.

30/08/2026

There’s quite a bit going on at the Co-op over spring. We have our Cookwell EatWell series of workshops on Wednesday nights where we learn to cook delicious budget-friendly food with Ann from Wild & Whole Kitchen. The next workshop is Wednesday 9th September at the Bright Community Centre, with another on the 23rd.
Booking via Humanitix

https://events.humanitix.com/cookwell-eatwell-workshop-3

https://events.humanitix.com/cookwell-eatwell-workshop-4

And because we love a workshop and we love growing vegetables and it’s nominally spring in a few days but the garden already thinks it’s spring, we are running a Spring planting workshop on Sunday 13th September at Lomandra Farm. Booking link here

https://events.humanitix.com/spring-planting-workshop-2026

The online shop is open now, we have medjools dates back in stock, and the chickens are laying up a storm so there are no longer any egg limits. Eggcellent.

The September volunteer roster is live, put your name down for some fun times.

https://brightcoop.ivolunteer.com/signup_sheet_september_2026

Look forward to seeing your smiling faces at the co-op sometime soon.

21/08/2026

The co-op is open tomorrow (Saturday) from 12-2pm. We have extra milk for sale and some veggie seedlings and greens for sale as well as the usual dry goods.

We are running a series of cooking workshops led by Ann of Wild and Whole kitchen. Occurring on Wednesdays fortnightly, the next one looks at tricks to create flavour on a budget to make delicious filling meals without spending the equivalent of the GDP. The next is on Wednesday the 26th August 6-8.30pm Bright Community Centre. Cost is $35. Booking via Humanitix

https://events.humanitix.com/cookwell-eatwell

We are also hosting a Spring planting workshop on Sunday 13th September 10-12pm Held at Lomandra Farm, participants will learn all things soil, seeds, plants and go home with a bunch of plants and plants to be ready for spring.
Bookings via Humanitix

https://events.humanitix.com/spring-planting-workshop-2026

Looks forward to seeing your smiling faces!

13/08/2026

06/08/2026

The co-op is hosting a workshop at the Bright Community Centre next Wednesday evening 12th August on Basic Fermentation skills followed by dinner 6.00 to 8.30pm
Led by Ann Nguyen of Wild Whole Kitchen, we will cover the basics of fermentation so you can confidently ferment at home - a great way to reduce waste, preserve food and support your all important gut health!We will make sauerkraut to take home then share a meal.
Booking via Humanitix - cost $35

Fermented foods are great for your gut and a fabulous way to preserve excess produce and prevent food waste

20/07/2026

The online shop is currently open, so
Jump into the website and order some delicious local food and organic dry goods.

Our learn-to-make tinctures workshop is on Sunday and we have a couple tickets left - $25 each 10-12pm

Part of our Grow Gather and Graze Community Workshop series, Join us on a foraging garden walk then learn how to to make tinctures from the garden abundance.

25/06/2026

Co-op happenings this week……

We had our beautiful winter solstice volunteer dinner on Sunday - wonderful company enjoying our gorgeous local produce, and are now looking forward to the days gradually lengthening as the season changes.

We have some exciting new products in the online shop with single farm Buckland Valley beef boxes from bone+marrow and Pepo farms chocolate hazelnuts.
Greens are fantastic at the moment with interesting heirlooms from our producers that you don’t find in the mainstream grocery system because they don’t store or travel well - which is not an issue for our produce because you get it so soon after it is picked. Bernie’s Murmungee carrots are particularly delicious at present.

The co-op is open on Saturday 12-2pm and there will be fresh vegetables this week plus some lettuce and rainbow chard seedlings.

Looks forward to seeing your smiling faces

19/06/2026

The co-op is open Saturday between 12-2pm for all your dry goods and bulk liquids.
No vegetables this week, they will be back next Saturday.
Small Patch Smoko are taking a well earned break and will be back with delicious veg in Spring - here’s a message from them:

Brian and Luisa (SmallPatch-Smoko) would like to thank everyone at the Co-op (volunteers, customers, and organisers) for their support during this past season. We are now taking a short break and will be back with renewed energy and fresh produce in spring.

This week on the online shop, Gamze are back in stock and we welcome new supplier Bone and Marrow. Bone and Marrow supply beef bone broth and 12kg mixed beef packs from their herd of Belted Galloways raised in the Buckland.
Coconut cream is back in stock too.

Online shop is open now www.brightfoodcoop.com.au

Happy solstice everyone!
Stay warm.

06/06/2026

🍂 Have you discovered persimmons yet?

Often called the “food of the gods,” persimmons are one of autumn’s most underrated fruits. A deciduous tree, when the leaves fall you are left with a tree full of spectacular orange baubles like an unseasonal Christmas decoration. There are a couple of magnificent specimens on the GAR at present between Bright and Myrtleford.

The key is knowing the difference between the two main types:

🟠 Fuyu (non-astringent) – sweet and crunchy, eaten like an apple.

🟠 Hachiya (astringent) – must be completely soft before eating. Once ripe, the flesh becomes rich, sweet and custard-like.

Persimmons are enjoyed across Asia in many forms, including Hoshigaki, a traditional Japanese delicacy made by peeling, hanging and slowly drying persimmons until they become naturally sweet and chewy.

They can also be fermented into Gam-Sikcho, a traditional Korean persimmon vinegar. Made through natural fermentation of ripe fruit, it develops complex fruity flavours and a gentle acidity that makes it delicious in dressings, drinks and marinades.

Whether sliced fresh into salads, eaten straight from the skin, dried, baked or fermented, persimmons are a seasonal treasure well worth exploring.

Have you tried persimmons before? What’s your favourite way to enjoy them?

06/06/2026

What to do with kale?
This kale salad is quick and easy, delicious and pairs beautifully with rich wintery stews - it comes from Kylie Shewry.
1bunch kale (cut the stalks out and slice finely.
15g Parmesan (finely grated)
1tbs olive oil
1 clove garlic crushed to a paste
Juice 1 lemon
Generous pinch of salt
5 grinds pepper
Put all the ingredients in bowl and massage together with your hands for 2-3 minutes until well combined.
Enjoy!

29/05/2026

Bright Food Co-op is excited to be launching and rolling out our new Volunteer Program.

With Alpine Shire Community Grants Program funding we have developed a new volunteer program to better train, support and interract with our amazing volunteers. Co-op member Hollie Bracewell has formed this program into a blueprint for other Community groups in the Alpine Shire to use.

Stay tuned for changes and improvements!

Curious about volunteering at the Co-op? We’d love to chat to you about opportunities. Check out our website brightfoodcoop.com.au for how to get involved in such a fabulous community! Or drop us an email [email protected]

All are welcome.