The Melbourne Wholesale Market partners with FareShare

The financial impacts of the Covid19 pandemic have seen an increase in food insecurity here in Australia, with estimates suggesting that three in ten Australians who are now experiencing food insecurity had not gone hungry before the pandemic. Further to this, 61% of food insecure Australians have accessed food relief since the beginning of the pandemic.

In view of these alarming statistics, Fresh State are pleased to announce our partnership with the Australian not-for-profit food rescue organisation — FareShare.

FareShare strives for a community where no food is wasted, and no one goes hungry. To achieve this vision, FareShare rescues food that may otherwise go to waste and cooks it into free, nutritious meals for those experiencing hardship. The organisation runs Australia’s largest charity kitchens where they cook more than three million meals a year for vulnerable Australians. By transforming surplus food into delicious, ready-to-eat meals, FareShare reduces the amount of food going to landfill and provides immediate relief to people in need.

The partnership, which was announced in December 2021, will help recognise the generous amounts of produce donated to food charities by the wholesalers within the Melbourne market. Jason Cooper, Fresh State CEO has said "the partnership is expected to result in a re-distribution of donated produce, not incremental donations. The wholesalers already donate a generous amount. We want to see donations evenly distributed to charities within the market to ensure the organisations’ can realise their vision".

The collaboration will allow for more consistency in the supply of fresh produce to FareShare which is needed to expand the facility and ensure continual distribution of meals. By donating surplus or imperfect food the generous wholesalers at the Melbourne Market are directly helping feed those doing it tough, as well as making an environmental impact through waste reduction.

“Fresh vegetables are absolutely critical to boosting the health and wellbeing of people doing it tough. FareShare chefs always need a variety of produce to add nutrition to our free, cooked meals for people in crisis."

Marcus Godhino FareShare CEO

M arcus Godinho, FareShare CEO says “Fresh vegetables are absolutely critical to boosting the health and wellbeing of people doing it tough. FareShare chefs always need a variety of produce to add nutrition to our free, cooked meals for people in crisis. We are excited to be working with Fresh State to put any surplus vegetables to the best possible use. Every donated vegetable can have a positive impact on someone’s life.”

Fresh State want to thank the generous wholesalers already donating produce to FareShare as well as encourage others to donate their end-of-life produce to help support the work of this great organisation, at a time when Australians need it most.