Morrisons, and the food redistribution charity FareShare, have kicked off a project at the retailer’s Cutler Heights fruit packing house in Bradford, England to re-direct surplus grapes to feed people in need.
Becky from Morrisons with surplus grapes from Culter Heights
Sometimes when grapes are packed, larger bunches may need to be slightly trimmed. Now, thanks to the collaboration between Morrisons and FareShare, these small offcuts will now be redistributed to FareShare’s network of over 6,700 frontline charities and community groups.
These groups provide meals for vulnerable people, including children’s breakfast clubs, community centres for families in deprived areas and lunch clubs for older people at risk of social isolation.
Lindsay Boswell, FareShare CEO, says: “The idea came about when we were on a factory walkthrough with the team at Cutler Heights. They spotted the grapes and we decided to work together to do something practical with the surplus. Our charities can’t get enough fresh fruit and veg, so this made total sense for us.
“Finding a product that could have been discarded and turning it either into something commercially viable, or one that benefits those in need, is a ‘win-win’ situation. This project is a testament to Morrisons’ commitment to working alongside FareShare to find innovative ways of reducing food waste at every stage of production.”
Steven Butts, Morrisons Head of Corporate Responsibility, says: “Working with FareShare in our manufacturing sites is a good addition to our wider surplus redistribution programme. It broadens our commitment to reduce food waste across our operations. We have now donated over three million unsold products to community groups from our stores.”
For more information:
Jen Glyn
FareShare
Tel: +44 020 7394 2460
Mob: +44 07415 241328