It runs like a large buying club with centralized buying and co-ordination. Twice a month individuals place orders for boxes with volunteer co-ordinators in their neighborhood. FoodShare's buyers purchase top-quality fruit and vegetables from the Ontario Food Terminal, or directly from local farmers, and volunteers pack the boxes at the FoodShare warehouse. Each box contains the same mixture of food, though the contents change with each delivery, depending on what is in season and reasonable at the time. We choose Ontario products for the box whenever possible because we want to know where and how our food is produced, to support local farmers and reduce the fossil fuels burned when we import food.
Customers pay the cost of the food itself, while distribution overheads are subsidized.
All of the boxes are accompanied by a newsletter that offers nutrition information, as well as easy and economical food preparation tips. Professional evaluation of The Good Food Box shows that participating in the program helps people access a more nutritious diet. The Good Food Box makes top-quality, fresh food available in a way that does not stigmatize people, fosters community development and promotes healthy eating. FoodShare has published a manual, The Good Food Box Guide , for people who are thinking about starting a program in their own community. These lists are to give you an idea of the types and amounts of food that come in each box.