The Vege Box story
I grew up in Ireland, where my grandparents took great pride in their vegetable gardens. From an early age, I learned the importance of good food - not just in the recipe, but in the ingredients themselves. Spending time in the garden picking vegetables I discovered the taste of fresh, homegrown produce. This relationship with produce led me to become a chef. Moving to Australia, working in and owning restaurants really cemented the importance of provenance.
My grandfather Tom watering his cabbages, County Meath, Ireland
The Vege Box started in 2011 with Amanda and Shane Roberts, a pair of produce merchants who supplied both home cooks and some of Sydney’s best independent cafes and restaurants with produce. That’s where I met them, when I was cheffing at Cornersmith. When I moved on to Two Chaps and then Pizza Madre, they became my trusted providores and relished finding me unique produce to work with. In the kitchen at two restaurants that don’t serve any meat, we relied on that produce. There was no spicy salami to make the flavour pop, we were just working with vegetables - the produce had to shine.
After stepping out of the kitchen, Shane asked me if I knew anyone who could help him at the markets. I said, mate, I’ll do it. I found out it was all the elements I love about food but without the parts I don’t enjoy anymore. Then, when Shane and Amanda told me they were moving overseas, I told them I wanted to take over.
With the Vege Box I want to work the same way I did as a chef, using the best produce I can find, helping to preserve rare and heirloom varieties, supporting small farmers and, most importantly, helping me, you and everyone who gets a box have the most delicious, interesting meals they can.
Sustainability
I want the Vege Box to help care for both our community and the planet. I’m always working to make a more sustainable business - the box supports Australian farmers, contributing to low food mileage and strengthening our community of small farmers; our boxes are 100% reusable, every time we drop off a box, we’ll pick up the old ones; and the box’s seasonality means we’re always working on nature’s schedule.
A Personal Touch
As a small business, we treat each box like our own. There’s a personal touch in everything we do - from curating your box of produce to the care we take in packing and delivering it. Food is about connection: to the people who grow it, the land it comes from, and the shared joy of cooking and eating together.
Our Promise To You
When you choose the Vege Box, you’re getting more than just fresh produce - you’re getting a handpicked selection of the most vibrant, seasonal produce in Australia. While the supermarket produce comes from a farm, to a packing facility, then to a distribution centre - this is farm-market-you. It’s fresher, it lasts longer, it’s more flavourful and it looks beautiful.
I hope you like it as much as I do.
Kim x