Since its set-up in 2016, the Food Hub has consistently received generous donations of apples and other surplus produce from local growers during late summer and early autumn. These contributions are shared through our foodshares and community groups.
For the 2022 season we formalized this effort by creating our Glean Teams to help rescue the produce that also needs picking as well as eating! Over the last few seasons this work has gradually increased and 2024 is proving to be a bumper year. Via our social media campaigns and word of mouth, as of mid-September we have visited 24 locations in and around Shrewsbury to pick apples, pears, plums and sometimes damsons.
The key question is, what happens next? The answer is simple: nothing goes to waste!
Edible fresh produce is directly distributed via our foodshares and community groups including local primary school breakfast clubs, community groups and local charities.
Cooking apples are also distributed to community members who enjoy cooking. Through our Community Kitchen project, we peel, slice, and cook apples to make stewed apple for pies and crumbles, which are then distributed via our community fridges and freezers.
Inevitably, some produce does not meet the standards for human consumption. This produce is either composted for gardeners or shared with our local network of pig farmers, who actually prefer mushy apples!
If you are interested in joining the Glean Team or have produce to share, please contact us at [email protected] or through our website’s contact page.
We would be delighted to hear from you and continue our mission to reduce food waste, one “apple” at a time!