Over 10 million kilograms of fresh produce donated to SA families in need!

Over 10 million kilograms of fresh produce donated to SA families in need!

Over 10 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables, worth more than $25 million, has been donated by South Australian growers to Foodbank SA since Sept 2012, as a result of the partnership between Foodbank SA and the South Australian Produce Market.

The fruit and vegetables have been used by Foodbank SA to provide more than 20 million meals across South Australia, to families in need.

Growers and wholesalers at the South Australian Produce Market (SAPM) donate daily, whilst farms and packing sheds located across the state’s horticulture regions send bulk supplies of produce into Foodbank’s warehouse located in the market. These fruit and vegetable donations are then distributed directly to those in need via Foodbank SA’s Food Hubs and a network of 600 welfare agencies, in addition to supporting more than 550 School Programs.

More than 100 horticulture businesses work with Foodbank SA, donating produce either through the market or direct from the farm gate or packing shed. Today, Foodbank distributes fruit and vegetables to more than 135,000 marginalised South Australians each month – one third being children.

Foodbank SA Chief Executive Officer, Greg Pattinson, said the record result highlighted the benefits of working directly with produce suppliers.

“When we started this partnership, we were receiving 100,000 kilograms as donations per year. Now the annual fruit and vegetable donations hit 1.5 million kilograms annually which is amazing. To have now reached 10 million kilograms of free fresh fruit and vegetables distributed over the 10 years of the partnership is a major milestone – it makes a significant difference to the support we can provide families who are struggling to put food on the table,” Mr Pattinson said.

“We know South Australians have a shortage of fruit and vegetables in their diets. This program has enabled us to provide nutritious meals to some of South Australia’s most vulnerable.

“It is important that families have balanced and nutritional options, given that around 135,000 South Australians would go without each month, if it was not for Foodbank. Getting the right food on the tables of vulnerable South Australians, particularly children, is our aim.”

According to an independent study into Foodbank’s social return on investment, Foodbank’s food assistance not only addresses people’s immediate nutrition needs but also contributes to improvements in their health, emotional wellbeing, sense of self-worth, social relationships and ultimately overall standard of living.

Combined with the environmental savings of food not going to waste, the benefit to the individual and the broader community that flows from every kilogram of food distributed by Foodbank is valued at $23. The Social Return on investment on the 10 million kilograms equates to more than $230 million impact in the South Australian community.

The Foodbank SA partnership with SAPM was an Australian first. SAPM Chief Executive Officer, Angelo Demasi, said “The South Australian Horticultural Industry has generously supported this initiative since inception 10 years ago – donating warehouse facilities on site at the South Australian Produce Market for the operations of Foodbank SA.”

“From the humble beginnings of the partnership where a truck would visit the markets weekly to collect donations of some 100,000 kg a year, through to the partnership we have today, the initiative has grown to provide an essential supply of more than 1.5M kg per annum of fresh produce to families in need.”

“The South Australian Produce Market is delighted with the 10M kg donation milestone and looks forward to continuing our relationship with Foodbank SA for many years to come”.

An album from the event can be found on the SA Produce Market Facebook page here. 

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:

Foodbank SA & SA Produce Market Milestone Event

Date: Wednesday, 27 July 2022
Location: Store 27 (Foodbank SA), SA Produce Market, Burma Road, Pooraka
Time: 8:30am
Photo: Greg Pattinson, CEO, Foodbank SA, Angelo Demasi, CEO, SA Produce Market
Interviews & Vision: Greg Pattinson, CEO, Foodbank SA, Angelo Demasi, CEO, SA Produce Market Movement of the Market, donations of fresh fruit and vegetables 

About Foodbank

Foodbank the largest food relief organisation in South Australia. Foodbank’s mission is to end hunger.

Foodbank SA provides food relief to over 135,000 struggling South Australians every month. One third of those are children. Foodbank SA sources food from wholesalers, manufacturers, supermarkets and growers, saving more than 2.2 million kilograms of food from landfill each year. In the last 12 months, Foodbank have sourced enough food to put more than 6.77 million meals on the table of those doing it tough in this state.

In South Australia, Foodbank is the pantry for the charity sector, providing more than 70% of the foodrelief requirements. Foodbank work with more than 596 charity organisations and support more than 550 school programs to distribute food relief across the state. They do this through our warehouses in Edwardstown, Whyalla, Berri, Mount Gambier, Alice Springs and our operations in the SA Produce Market.

Foodbank SA also distribute food direct to those in need through our Foodbank Food Hubs operating in Edwardstown, Christies Beach, Davoren Park, Woodville, Murray Bridge, MT Gambier, Whyalla, Ceduna, Alice Springs and two Mobile Food Hubs supporting regional SA.

About SAPM

The South Australian Produce Market is South Australia’s primary fresh produce wholesale market. Over 250,000 tonnes of fresh produce is traded between 45 wholesalers, 60 growers and hundreds of retail operators each year, worth an estimated wholesale value of $550 million.

Media contacts:

Sarah Davies, Foodbank SA, 0432511091

Penny Reidy, South Australian Produce Markets, 0408 877 797