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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
Getting food where the need is greatest 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. By Glenys Christian 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. 34
The ORCHARDIST : FEBRUARY 2021
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 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.
