YOUR INDUSTRY
GETTING FOOD WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST Words by Glenys Christian
At the Fairgrow launch are (from left) Andrew Keaney, the managing director of T&G Fresh, Peter Aarts from Sundale Farms, and Gavin Findlay, the chief executive of the New Zealand Food Network
Bringing food to the tables of New Zealanders in need is the aim of Fairgrow, launched by T&G Fresh in Auckland at the end of last year, which so far has seen almost 290,000 kilograms of fruit and vegetables donated. Managing director, Andrew Keaney, told guests at the launch at its Mt Wellington base that the company’s purpose is to grow healthier futures through fresh fruit and vegetables. “We knew well before Covid-19 that there were many New Zealanders not getting enough food,” he said. With estimates of around 500,000 Kiwis affected by food insecurity, the problem extends beyond local communities. So a system had to be developed to get produce distributed right across the country, making fresh fruit and vegetables go a lot further. And with the level of need skyrocketing with Covid-19 as demand outstripped supply, the company saw it could add real value, becoming a foundation member of the New Zealand Food Network in July last year. This group operates as a central hub, collecting and storing bulk donated food from producers and suppliers, then distributing it out to food rescue organisations, iwi 38
NZGROWER : FEBRUARY 2021
and charities. Gavin Findlay, the chief executive of the New Zealand Food Network, said its philosophy is closely aligned with that of T&G Fresh in supporting those in need with a commitment to do the right thing. “You could say it’s a marriage made in heaven.” Fairgrow is now collecting and aggregating surplus and donated fruit and vegetables from T&G’s 1,200 growers as well as from its own business. Andrew Keaney said that as well as rising demand due to Covid-19 it is estimated that $872 million worth of food is wasted annually in New Zealand, representing 122,500 tonnes sent to landfill. “We know addressing food insecurity will require everyone, including business, government and community groups, to work together and take collaborative action,” he said. Fairgrow are helping here too by raising funds to buy produce when it isn’t plentiful or readily available, so those in need have greater access throughout the year. Sometimes produce might be left in the ground or on trees as there aren’t buyers, so Fairgrow will help out financially, making contributions towards the cost of harvesting and donating some of these crops. Using its grower network and national fresh produce supply chain, it can match fresh produce supplies with demand from around the country using New Zealand
