Food charity FareShare is urging more fruit suppliers to donate surplus produce in time for the new school year in order to cater for more breakfast clubs.
The charity already works with fruit suppliers including AMT Fruit, IPL, Mack, Richard Hochfeld, Rodanto and Worldwide Fruit, but is looking for more partners with produce that is “slightly less than perfect” but still edible. Easy to eat fruit such as bananas, satsumas, grapes and melons are particularly welcome.
Fruit is particularly in demand at school breakfast clubs as it is easy to serve, FareShare said, adding that the number of school breakfast clubs it supports rose by 14 per cent during the last year. Demand is expected to grow further as more schools join the ‘Sugar Smart’ programme and swap high-sugar fruit juices for natural alternatives.
“No matter how efficient food businesses are, it’s inevitable that at some point they will find themselves with surplus produce for a whole host of reasons, from weather changes to order changes or produce becoming out of spec,” said FareShare commercial manager, Colin Burcombe.
“We’re appealing to fruit fresh suppliers to work with us to ensure their surplus is put to the best possible use, so that children can enjoy a healthy start to the day and a good start in life.”
Research shows that children who eat a healthy breakfast before the school day starts benefit from better concentration, yet some low-income families struggle to provide this at home.
Suppliers interested in working with FareShare should visit www.fareshare.org.uk/giving-food or contact foodoffers@fareshare.org.uk.
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