By Margaret Maccoll
What began in Noosa in 2014 as an organisation with three volunteers and an aim to rescue good food that would otherwise go to waste now collects and distributes 10,000kg per month.
Ozharvest has expanded over three years from Noosa to Cotton Tree, Maroochydore and west to Nambour with volunteers now numbering 45.
They collect food that doesn’t meet shop and customers’ requirements from major supermarkets, farmers markets, fruit and vegie shops, butchers and producers.
“It doesn’t look pretty, but is still good,” Sunshine Coast Ozharvest spokeswoman Michele Lipner said.
She said just one egg producer gave them 250-300 eggs every fortnight because they were too big, too small or outside the supermarket’s two-week shelf life limit.
“It’s staggering what’s out there,” she said.
The organisation provides the food it collects to charity organisations including St Vincent de Paul’s, churches and schools to provide food for people in need.
It also raises awareness of food waste and educates people to reduce their waste by changing their behaviours, using left overs and buying imperfect looking food.
For more information or to assist through volunteering or donation visit
www.facebook.com/OzHarvestSunshineCoast/
