£10m Fund To Boost Fresh Food Access In Deprived Communities

New government funding for 45 English local authorities could create opportunities for mobile greengrocers, community food shops, and other fresh produce initiatives in areas with high levels of deprivation and childhood obesity.

Almost £10 million is being invested by the government to improve access to healthy and affordable food across some of England’s most disadvantaged communities.

Under the new Good Food Neighbourhoods programme, 45 local authorities will each receive £222,000 to develop food initiatives tailored to local needs, according to Defra.

Among the projects that could be supported are community food shops, mobile greengrocers, lunch clubs, and community kitchens, as well as cooking and nutrition programmes.

The funding could therefore provide a potential route for fresh produce businesses and community food organisations to work with councils to expand access to fruit and vegetables in areas where affordable fresh food is harder to obtain.

The government said local leaders would have control over how the funding is used, allowing them to develop solutions based on the needs of their communities.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of persistent food insecurity in the UK. 

Government figures show that 9% of people lived in food-insecure households in 2024/25. 

Children in the most deprived communities are also significantly more likely to experience obesity and associated health inequalities.

The programme has been developed following work by the Citizen’s Advisory Council and discussions with civil society organisations.

As well as the government funding, the initiative is intended to bring businesses, charities and philanthropic organisations into local projects, with the aim of expanding existing schemes, reaching more people and attracting additional investment.

The government said the programme forms part of its wider Good Food Cycle, designed to improve access to healthier food while helping communities build more resilient local food systems.

The 45 participating authorities include: Birmingham, Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Nottingham, Salford, Sunderland, and Wolverhampton, alongside councils in London and across the North, Midlands, East, and South East of England.

For the fresh produce sector, the programme could be worth noting as councils begin to determine how the funding will be deployed locally, particularly where mobile retail, community shops, and other models could help extend access to fresh fruit and vegetables.