Education is everything. A yellow army that shows us how not to waste food. OZ Harvest is a market, a food truck and, more important, a rescue community that solves two problems at once: food waste and hunger.
In 2004 Ronni Kahn noticed the huge volume of good food going to waste from the hospitality industry. To be more accurate, over 20 billion dollars of food goes to waste only in Australia.
She decided there had to be a better way. She started in Sydney with one yellow van. During the first month, she delivered 4,000 meals.
Today OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation in the world, collecting quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivering it directly to the charities all over the country.
“Think. Eat. Save.”
OzHarvest helps vulnerable people but also educates the community. They encourage consumers to think:
What do we purchase? Do I need it? When am I going to use it?
OZHarvest has designed powerful education programs bring the message about food waste and sustainability.
NEST is a series of workshops. Participants learn about nutritious, healthy choices. Also about low-cost meal planning, budgeting, and understanding to read food labels and how the food is correctly stored. Best of all shopping and cooking tips to minimise food waste.
On the other hand, Nourish is a free initiative for the youth coming from vulnerable backgrounds. They have the opportunity to join training to get a Certificate II in Hospitality.
The global impact of OZ Harvest is fantastic! 66 million meals delivered, which is 22,000 tonnes of good food saved from the landfill.
Oz Harvest is present in 8 cities and through many regional communities across Australia, rescuing over 100 tonnes of food each week. Thanks to supermarkets, hotels, airports, wholesalers, farmers, corporate events, catering companies, shopping centres, delis, cafes, restaurants, film and TV shoots and boardrooms, the not waste food supermarket has received over 3,000 food donors.
This food is then delivered directly to more than 1,000 charities, which includes: homeless shelters, women’s and men’s refuges, youth groups, indigenous centres, organisations that service people with alcohol or drug addictions, mental health issues, people with disabilities and the elderly.
The yellow army
It’s wonderful to see how a bunch of volunteers are creating such a connected community. They connect with food waste from the foundations.Â
Wanna’ roll up your sleeves?
From food donors to volunteers,
food truck drivers and staff members,
financial donors and in-kind supporters,
board directors and corporate volunteers;
by researching the local needs for food assistance, food rescue and education in food waste
Or even creating a new OzHarvest chapter…
Oz Harvest is going global, with branches already in New Zealand, UK, Thailand and developing in Sahara.
Decide what role you would like to play in the “Our Country Nourishing” purpose and contact them via email [email protected] or calling 1800 108 006.
Save food, save money. Avoid the over consuming habit and save OUR planet!
Is there any other similar brand you know or are curious about? Comment below and we will make it happen!
