A COMMUNITY-conscious fruit and veg wholesaler is growing relationships with people across Inverclyde by delivering healthy supplies in this time of crisis.

MVM Fruit Services, based in Upper Cartsburn Street in Greenock, is now dropping off fruit and veg packs to people who are unable to get out and about.

Vincent McGowan and his daughter Claire, his sons Paul and Ross and employee John O'Donnell, have been helping 80 customers every day.

MVM has been around since 1904 and their latest sterling community effort echoes the work of Vincent's great great grandfather David, when the entrepreneur delivered to people across Inverclyde during the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918, just after the end of WW1.

Vincent, 53, said: "As a wholesaler, we started to lose a lot of business when the coronavirus outbreak began as our customers closed their doors, so we had to adapt.

"It's been a really warming experience.

"People are so thankful when we turn up at the door with the supplies and they can have a wee chat."

The family business is offering £10 and £20 variety packs for delivery, with the former proving popular with elderly people and the £20 boxes ideal for families.

Items packed into the boxes include baking potatoes, apples, satsumas, kiwi fruit, onions, pears, leeks, Maris Piper potatoes and lettuce.

When delivering, Vincent and the team stick to social distancing guidelines and abide by infection control measures.

Vincent and the team plan to carry on with the service when lockdown lifts and they are considering offering itemised ordering.

Vincent added: "The variety packs are a good way for us to get the volume out there.

"We've made sure that we have ingredients for soups as people are in the house a lot more, and there's salad veg and fruit in there too.

"We still have customers of our own to service and we're keeping that going at the same time.

"It's been a good experience and we're really enjoying it."

To order one of the fruit and veg variety packs, call MVM on 01475 785000.