A former Oxford University student who became a gardener at his old college is now setting up a co-operative to grow and sell local vegetables in Oxfordshire.

Joe Hasell, 24, said: “While I was studying philosophy and politics at Worcester College I set up an allotment for students in the grounds. And when I left in 2009 I became a gardener at the college.”

Now he has joined forces with fellow former Oxford University students Emma Burnett, 26, Julian Cottee, 25, and Doireann Lalor, 26, along with Durham graduate Dan Betterton, 30, to establish Cultivate — a not-for profit co-operative society that aims to bring fresh, local food direct from farmers to the city and surrounding communities.

The new social enterprise has taken the lease on a five acre market garden near Didcot and will sell the produce, along with fresh produce from other sustainable farmers, from its VegVan.

Mr Hasell said: “We will establish a pop-up markets wherever people want one — outside business premises or schools for instance.”

The new co-op, registered with the Financial Services Authority as an industrial and provident society for the benefit of the community, launched its scheme on January 16.

Anyone investing a minimum of £100 in shares will automatically become a member of the new co-op, though others may join by paying a £24 annual subscription.

And people may also join by volunteering work or becoming champions of the scheme in their area.

Mr Hasell said: “ The main point is that local food is a good solution to many environmental and social issues. Farmers are an aging group and we are a new generation of socially-minded young farmers.”

He added: “More than 50 per cent of Britain’s food is imported and less than one per cent of that sold in Oxford is directly traded. We believe that we can produce food that is now imported from Kenya, cutting down food miles.”

In setting up the business plan for the new co-op the group received advice from the organisation Making Local Food Work and from Co-op UK, which helps people starting social enterprises.

The blueprint for the new commercial venture was Oxgrow, where since January last year students and others, with the help of green group Low Carbon South Oxford, have been growing food on two former Corpus Christi College tennis courts at the end of Whitehorse Road, Oxford.

Mr Hasell said: “This will be a community owned scheme in which everyone may share. We have had a lot of pledges of support for the launch of our share offer.”

Web: www.cultivateoxford.org