Discussing food waste and feeding the nation with UK Harvest

Studying Time: 17 minutes

We just lately hosted an Instagram Reside, the place Magpie Izzy sat down with Sarah Morison from meals waste charity UK Harvest. They mentioned the work UK Harvest do, how they assist feed folks throughout the UK and extra! For those who missed the dwell, don’t worry! You’ll be able to watch it beneath. You may as well learn the transcript of the dwell beneath, too!

Don’t neglect to take a look at the UK Harvest web site here. You will discover them on Instagram here and comply with The Nourish Hub here.

UK Harvest have loads of volunteering opportunities. If you’re unable to volunteer, why not signal as much as their newsletter or be a part of certainly one of their upcoming online cook-alongs?

 

Izzy

So thanks a lot for approaching. That is Sarah Morison from UK Harvest for everybody that’s joined to date, hopefully we’ll get just a few extra folks as time goes on. So UK Harvest is a meals, meals waste charity, I’d say, , making an attempt to attempt to feed the nation at the moment, which is a tremendous, wonderful factor to be doing. So we wished to hop on with Sarah and type of focus on UK Harvest, and every little thing they stand up to, the work they do and how one can assist them and the way they may also help you.

So yeah, so we’ll be discussing issues. For those who’ve obtained any questions, simply go away them beneath. We’ll try to reply them. And there’ll be a playback of this on the web site and on our YouTube channel afterwards. So if you must go away for any motive, or your connection drops out otherwise you are available midway via, there might be a playback. So, Sarah, so if you wish to simply begin by type of speaking us via what UK Harvest is what they do, that’d be actually nice.

Sarah

Completely, thanks. UK Harvest was actually arrange in 2017. So, we’re fairly a younger charity, we’re very a lot an environmental charity. As we forestall meals waste, the entire thought is we seize that meals that may in any other case go to waste. So it is likely to be surplus meals, proper throughout the availability chain. And that’s farmers, growers, producers, wholesalers, distributors, dwell occasions, any meals that may in any other case get wasted. And truly 80% of what we rescue is perishable. So it’s contemporary fruit and veg, so that you’re working to fairly tight timings as a result of it actually can rot in entrance of you. And we have to seize that and redistribute it to individuals who actually need it. In order that’s the environmental degree.

However what’s so unbelievable is taking one thing that may in any other case go to waste and make sure that those that actually do want it. And that’s homeless, refuges, home abuse shelters, we’ve obtained a community of just about 300 charities proper throughout the south of England that we help via this donated meals. However there’s one other venture I’ll let you know about in a minute. So we’re tremendous busy amassing the meals and redistributing it to those that want it. However I feel the essential factor is a few meals redistribution charities are actually about logistics.

We’re sturdy believers that in case you wrap every little thing we do round with training – it’s no giving somebody a butternut squash in the event that they don’t know what to do with it. So we’re actually about equipping folks to be taught some funds pleasant, fast straightforward ideas that they will use within the kitchen to increase their weight loss plan and construct up wholesome nutritious meals and meals with the meals that we offer.

Izzy

Nice and I seen in your web site you will have a complete bit about recipes, straightforward recipes, you’ve obtained some good, pancakes on there, frittatas, scrumptious issues, my mouth is watering after I was taking a look at all of it, however actually nice that you’ve got that type of on-line presence that you simply say that training presence, you’ve obtained some movies I feel they’re known as the Bushy Harvesters, that’s nice, nice initiative as some actually good movies and making some straightforward issues.

Such as you say I feel it’s nice , it’s one factor to present folks meals after which to a different factor to type of educate them how they will how they will make issues out of it and there’s so many issues you can also make out of , some tomatoes you can also make an array of issues and , I feel it’s actually nice that that type of on-line platform is there for folks to type of return to as properly and I seen you had a an internet cook dinner alongside.

Sarah

Yeah, that’s one factor I used to be going to hope to advertise in the present day truly in case you go onto our web site, so it’s UK in scroll alongside the highest there’s varied tabs and beneath neighborhood, we’ve obtained a complete part known as Nourish Ed so nourish training, and that’s simply full of cash saving, waste stopping, cookery programs and ideas. Numerous, as you say, leftover recipe concepts to present you inspiration. So in case you’ve obtained these previous few carrots mendacity round, , I may do it right here, I can try this. We’re actually fortunate to work with tremendous inventive cooks. And each single day right here is like Prepared Regular Cook dinner, we do not know what produce goes to be collected from the farms that day.

So this morning, I’ve simply been over and there’s cauli shoots in there.So like lengthy cauliflowers, we’ve obtained plenty of pretty contemporary tomatoes that can in all probability flip in a few days. So we’re desperately developing with plenty of extra tomato recipes, chilies, all types. In order that Nourish Ed platform on our web site is simply nice for happening to and selecting up these recipe and concepts.

Additionally on there, you’ll see there’s three dwell cook-alongs developing. And as everyone knows, we’ve all needed to rein our budgets in, we are able to’t essentially, Deliveroo takeaways are all now a luxurious. So we’ve obtained a sequence of cook-alongs developing, there’s one on the thirtieth of September primary on the 4th of October primary on the seventeenth. They’re all free to affix, and we’re doing takeaways, we’re going to show you the best way to make, I don’t know cool chilli, a little bit of a Mexican, we’d do.

However utilizing actually good retailer cabinet elements that you simply’ve already in all probability obtained at residence, and also you’ve forgotten concerning the paprika within the cabinet. After which there’s and we’ll put that collectively and you’ll have a fakeaway at residence. In order that’s about equipping folks with actually good cooking expertise, however to eat actually wholesome on a funds.

Izzy

That’s such a good suggestion as properly, as a result of such as you say, , all of us have a cheeky take away now and again, we like to, , finish our Friday night time with one thing scrumptious, to reward ourselves for the week, but it surely’s about saving the pennies for the time being. And , a number of my favorite meals that I make are ones that I type of assume proper what have I obtained within the cabinet? How can I make one thing out of this?

And I feel yeah, such as you say, simply type of exhibiting folks but, , the weirdest mixture of elements you may not have considered may make one thing so scrumptious, and prevent a lot cash. And I feel , fakeaway is such a great way to start out as a result of , all of us love a takeaway, however sadly, they’re simply going up in value. And generally, , you can also make one thing even higher than to remove at residence.

Sarah

So with that, you’re completely proper, it’s cheaper while you do it at residence, you possibly can have simply plenty of enjoyable doing it, particularly if it’s a part of a cook-along. And what we try to embed in all our programs are these type of meals waste ideas. So that you simply’re you’re not peeling a veg, you possibly can ditch the peeler, it simply give it a scrub, it’s obtained a great deal of diet within the within the skins of those greens and issues, and actually occupied with what waste you might be creating at residence.

As a result of we’re very a lot working at this business degree. And we in case you have a look at the meals waste obtainable, we’re taking 30% of what will get wasted. That’s what occurs at farms, however 70% of meals waste truly occurs at residence. So we’ve all set to work actually exhausting to cut back our personal. And that’s not identical to monetary, it’s additionally as a result of all of that meals, the trouble that’s gone into rising and the water and the facility and the vitality, the transport to get that meals after which put it within the bin and throw it into landfill is simply tragic. So I really feel like one environmental factor we are able to all do to assist.

Izzy

Yeah, that’s fascinating. You say that, as a result of finest earlier than dates and promote by dates are there as a information, however I feel lots of people use them as , bible. I get, , perhaps rooster and belongings you don’t need to use previous the date as a result of they are often harmful, however issues like greens and fruit. You already know, do the sniff take a look at. So that you may get the odd squidgy tomato, however I discover you possibly can chuck them in a spag bol. That’s wonderful. I feel you’re proper. I feel we waste much more than folks assume. And I’ve actually tried to chop again and assume extra about what I’m chucking away. And the freezer is my finest pal. You already know, every little thing I can’t eat, I simply freeze. It’s nice.

Sarah

That sounds such as you already everywhere in the ideas, which is nice. I feel that you simply’re completely proper with finest earlier than dates, that’s actually a information of high quality. It’s not a faith in any approach. Simply use your personal judgement. And the one factor we actually advocate is in case you see a use by date, that’s the one you take heed to. And as you say, in case you get close to that and also you realise that you simply’re not going to make use of these rooster breasts tonight, tomorrow night time, whack them within the freezer, it buys you a large period of time. You’ll be able to actually freeze that three months, after which use it while you want it. However you simply should freeze freeze freeze in case you’re developing in opposition to a by date.

Isobel

Yeah, undoubtedly. So, what do UK Harvest do type of on the bottom degree, so I do know you will have some hubs, and a few neighborhood kitchens and issues. Might you inform us a bit extra about these?

Sarah

Completely. We grew massively throughout COVID. You’ll be able to think about when out of the blue all of these routes to hospitality, colleges, eating places, every little thing closed. All of that meals backed up very, in a short time. And we have been actually inundated with a loopy quantity of meals. And though we have been delivering to plenty of charities and people who have been weak and sheltering throughout COVID, we fairly shortly realised that that simply wasn’t the best approach of doing it.

So after we arrange this community of pantries, and we name it a pop up pantry, and it’s actually a lot extra than simply meals, it’s a approach of coming collectively in the neighborhood. And those that we run down in Chichester, the place we’re based mostly, however we stretch so far as Midhurst and all the way down to Selsey. It’s all on our web site beneath pop up pantry, we flip up for an hour at a neighborhood centre. And we work actually carefully with that neighborhood to be sure that folks from that actually native space are coming in.

We additionally goal the housing associations in that space. We work with a number of refugees.It’s nice we work with anybody who is likely to be on a good funds, and the distinction with us and meals banks is there’s no registration. We welcome everybody, you’re all working collectively to try to rescue this meals. However people who find themselves on a good funds can actually pop a steered donation of £3.50 and convey a bag and rescue the meals that they need to feed their household with. So not like a meals financial institution, the place it is likely to be very a lot tinned base, that is way more contemporary, nutritious, and other people can select. And that choice is admittedly key, as a result of they’re selecting what they need to feed their household that week.

And we are able to additionally wrap the meals round with recommendation. Citizen’s recommendation are wonderful. They arrive all the way down to a few of our pantries they usually may also help folks get on board with checking what different extra advantages they may have. All of that may be wrapped round and we interact folks across the meals  And we’ve actually discovered put up COVID that , whether or not it’s some aged individuals who may need had that type of isolation, this breaks that social isolation, it brings these communities collectively. And it’s such a contented vibe.

The pantry is nice, everybody goes away sharing recipes, concepts, tips about what we are able to do with the broccoli and it will get folks speaking and occupied with the best way to use and increase these diets and never waste meals. In order that’s pantry community. After which as you stated we’ve additionally obtained this fabulous venture in London known as the Nourish Hub. And I’d encourage anybody in West London to come back and go to it’s unimaginable. We have been fortunate sufficient to get funding via the Mayor of London and Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council to show a kind of, it’s like a Sainsbury’s native that was, it’s on the backside of a giant tower block in West London, Shepherds Bush. And it’s now probably the most thriving neighborhood kitchen.

So we serve actually nutritious, nice vegetarian meals each day, there’s a steered donation value of say, 5 kilos for curry, scrumptious curry. However in case you can’t afford it, that’s wonderful. Don’t fear about it. So we we goal everybody in the neighborhood, whether or not you’re working in an workplace across the nook, and you’ll pop down for a pleasant inexpensive lunch. Otherwise you is likely to be actually struggling and homeless. And we now have some pretty guys that are available each single day and have scorching meals with us. So we actually bringing that entire neighborhood collectively in West London.

And what’s nice as properly is the catering kitchen there, the group of cooks who’re prepping the meals for the cafe each day, are actually supported by I imply, none of our operation would occur with out volunteers. We’ve obtained some pretty volunteers in there who’re additionally studying actually key cookery expertise. And generally it’s like a stepping stone for them to get employment, say on the finish of it and go into the hospitality business. So we are able to practice up throughout the kitchen and provides them references after they transfer on. So there’s that catering website.

After which on the different finish of the Neighborhood Cafe is a superb coaching kitchen, the place we are able to run focused programs to households, to totally different charities we work with, to show these key cooking expertise. And within the holidays, clearly, we now have the vacation exercise programme to help these children on free faculty meals to be taught some nice cooking expertise and likewise get a pleasant scorching lunch on the similar time. So I can’t say initiatives are occurring throughout. Nevertheless it’s actually good how we are able to use meals. And that is all rescued meals. It’s all used to actually maintain and interact folks round meals waste consuming meals, and actually getting folks out of that isolation and coming collectively round meals.

Izzy

Yeah, I feel the phrase neighborhood is ideal for it since you actually are. You already know, it’s not nearly meals. It’s about , serving to folks get entangled and make buddies. And I feel that’s actually pretty, particularly as you say, COVID put lots of people into isolation and other people felt very lonely. And , there’s a giant loneliness situation with aged folks particularly and I feel that’s a beautiful, pretty factor and it offers them a type of secure area to come back and take part. And I additionally noticed in your web site, you talked about you possibly can there’s a steered donation, however you stated you’ll by no means flip anybody away. So even in case you’d solely give 10p. You already know, that’s that’s so pretty to know. And I feel that can actually reassure lots of people and take weight off lots of people’s shoulders, particularly for the time being.

So I feel that’s actually nice. I had a pair extra questions for you. So clearly you stated you have been based mostly in Chichester, and also you type of go all the way down to, I noticed you doing a little issues in Brighton the place I dwell truly. So is it type of simply based mostly type of down South?

Sarah

The UK Harvest distribution centre in case you like, the precise rescue operations a part of the enterprise may be very a lot as you say in Chichester. However in reality, the world we cowl, we go so far as Bristol on a Monday and gather from there, we go proper out to Kent and gather there and into South London. So we gather, we cowl very a lot the South of England by way of our attain. And that’s by way of the donors we choose up from.

And we help by way of different ones, generally there’s alternatives that come via, , wonderful quantities of meals that may out of the blue change into obtainable up close to Birmingham, we’ve truly arrange throughout COVID unbelievable factor known as the Xcess Network. We are able to put hyperlinks on I’m positive, however I feel up with different related sort charities. So with a large alternative comes via to us, we’re actually good, the entire meals rescue world is decided to only not waste. So we inform companions that is likely to be the bread and butter additional north. And we’ll say, are you able to guys rescue this as a result of it’s simply out of our attain. And equally, if there’s a large meals, or we’ve obtained a glutt of candy potatoes, we’ll hyperlink with Metropolis Harvest, and do a swap will drive up with potatoes, they’ll give us apples and pears, , we actually commerce the entire time. So it’s an actual partnership working.

However by way of utilization of the initiatives that individuals can entry. Our pantries for the time being are very particular spaced all our programs which can be obtainable on our web site, that’s all on-line, that’s nationwide, you go for it get pleasure from anyplace you might be. After which the London centre. I imply, we’ll see anybody that may get to Shepherd’s Bush. We’re 5 minutes away from that.

Izzy

Great and also you stated that, , you provide a number of issues totally free, which I feel is wonderful, , these programs on-line and these recipes on-line. So how can folks donate to you or volunteer their time? You already know, can folks simply signal as much as volunteer? Or can they , donate a bit of cash in the event that they need to? How does that work?

Sarah

Sensible. Completely. The simplest factor is in case you go to our web site, the highest proper, it says Get Concerned, in case you click on on there, there’s other ways of doing it. So you possibly can donate time. And if you wish to volunteer for us, completely. There’s a join sheet there. We’re all the time in search of volunteers, the the alternatives, if I’m sincere, type of fluctuate relying on the initiatives we’ve obtained concerned. Nevertheless it’s nice to be concerned, you’ll all the time have a publication that , we hold you updated with these these choices. The opposite click on down is clearly Donate Cash.

For assist, we’re a charity, we’re completely reliant on donations on grant funding, some Nationwide Lottery Funding Council funding, we actually actually need it to maintain these vans on the street to maintain rescuing. So if anybody is ready to donate cash, then that may be fabulous. And there’s a quite simple donate button there. The opposite factor, which is simply pretty is simply to enroll to our publication hyperlink, very straightforward to do. And that approach, you’ll simply have a publication each week with what we’re as much as as a charity. And also you may see the totally different initiatives we’re concerned in, and likewise some meals waste ideas.So there are other ways that you could get entangled like that.

Izzy

Great. And do you will have any type of ideas simply off the highest of your head? You already know, we’ve lined just a few little ideas right here and there. Simply methods folks , tonight can look of their fridge and assume, proper? How can I save this meals? Or , is there something that you are able to do to save lots of your self a bit of cash and type of forestall some meals waste in your house?

Sarah

Completely, there’s tens of millions, we frequently say a number of it’s simply organising your fridge, generally it’s fairly good to have one of many cabinets, which is the ‘I have to eat this now’ shelf, to just be sure you’ve you’ve clocked what’s in there. And perhaps it’s the rooster breast that’s nearly to go off, it makes positive that there’s a type of go to shelf that you simply use first. And actually whilst you’re wanting on the knowledge, ignore the perfect earlier than, it’s utilized by you have a look at. Put it within the freezer, in case you’re not going to make use of it, undoubtedly.

The opposite factor we all the time say is simply earlier than you get grocery store or perhaps earlier than you head to work within the morning, take an image of the fridge, take an image of your cabinet. So while you buy groceries, you find yourself shopping for what you’ve already obtained in your fridge, easy factor, simply take that image and also you’ll keep in mind to not purchase double, , plan the meals that you simply’re truly going to eat and be life like about it. We generally have this grand plan and what we’re going to buy for the week after which half of it, doesn’t get used for no matter. Actually, actually take into consideration the meal planning. Take that image of your meals and simply attempt to eat within the order that it’s going to expire.

However yeah, simply get inventive combine issues up. Attempt to experiment. We’ve obtained some recipe concepts that can all the time offer you inspiration.

Izzy

Yeah, completely. There’s a lot, a lot in your web site. We’ve obtained a query right here from Chloe who says; “Actually nice concepts. Is there any meals that shouldn’t be frozen?”

Sarah

Any meals that shouldn’t be frozen…there’s generally controversy about egg however I’m afraid, we nonetheless freeze eggs. You’ll be able to break them down, crack them in a bag and that approach they are often frozen. I’m doing a shout out right here. I can’t consider something off the highest of my head. Salad I suppose, no matter you name salad. However something like herbs, , chop it up, put it in with oil in these little ice trays. That might be an excellent tip. However no, we haven’t discovered one which’s a large no but, so we’re all about freezing in case you can.

Izzy

Nice and there’s so many issues that individuals don’t assume to freeze that freeze wonderful. I froze hummus, I froze cream cheese generally it’d separate a bit, simply give them a stir and it’ll return to regular. I feel simply trial and error. I feel I some issues, yeah, they may look a bit dodgy as soon as defrosted. However yeah, simply give them a stir they usually type of return. However yeah, I feel that’s a very, actually good tip.

I’ve by no means truly tried to freeze eggs, however I suppose that may work. I don’t see why that wouldn’t work. However yeah. And clearly you spoke concerning the cook-alongs developing. Is there another occasions that we are able to look out for or something thrilling developing for UK Harvest?

Sarah

We have now obtained some initiatives, I’m simply wishing we have been a few days down the road. So, I’d actually like it if everybody can comply with @UKHarvest. For our Instagram, we’ll be launching one thing quickly round Halloween. I hope ideas, as a result of I’m an actual certainly one of like, don’t simply carve your pumpkin, cook dinner it this 12 months, , be sure that issues like that simply don’t get wasted.

So the Nourish Hub on Instagram, that’s all reveals you all these pretty menus which can be occurring in London each day. However the cook-alongs, that’s a nationwide programme, we might love folks to affix the cook-alongs and the extra who can interact with that the higher. So attempt. See what you assume and try this fakeaway at residence.

Izzy

Yeah, fantastic. And what, it’s humorous you say about pumpkins, as a result of I made a beautiful pumpkin soup final 12 months with my pumpkin and toasted the seeds. And that was scrumptious. I feel it’s nice. Like, I feel when you get into that mindset of proper, I’ve obtained some leftovers. What can I do with it? Proper, I’ve obtained a random little bit of pumpkin, what can I do?

And , my Mum, she’s a really frugal lady. She’s taught me all I do know, bless her and she or he all the time says freeze all vegetable scrapings and issues and make some vegetable inventory out of them. And I feel that’s such a pleasant thought. And also you assume, oh, it’s a bit bizarre simply shoving a great deal of vegetable peel in water, but it surely’s so scrumptious. And it’s so low-cost to make. And once more, simply one other approach to forestall that waste, which is nice.

Sarah

We truly had a beautiful group of volunteers in right here earlier they usually’ve been making, so that you peel potatoes, as a result of we did truly have to peel them for this venture we have been doing. However the entire peelings, we actually simply places somewhat little bit of curry powder on, little bit of oil, put them within the oven is probably the most scrumptious, like type of potato peel crisps. So I’m like you can also make this a problem. What can I do with these? Simply Simply keep away from placing something within the bin. Please, please, please.

Izzy

And in case you do compost it, don’t put it within the normal waste. Effectively, thanks a lot. Simply earlier than we go, I used to be gonna say , clearly, the colder months are coming and Christmas is developing. And if there’s anybody watching or who watches this again that perhaps is aware of somebody at Christmas that perhaps is homeless or one thing like that. Are you open through the Christmas interval? Are you serving to folks out at the moment?

Sarah

We are actually simply placing collectively our programme for Christmas. So I feel the perfect factor is please have a look at the web site. Completely. We are going to clearly prolong the assistance as a lot as we are able to. And we’re working with different initiatives. So we’ll all the time signpost to different extra help if we have to. And as much as Christmas, we might be doing a great deal of totally different training courses about simply how to not over purchase for Christmas, simply plan and don’t overdo it as a result of it truly is a type of time of 12 months the place there’s a number of meals waste that so avoidable.

So I feel this 12 months significantly, when budgets are tight, we’re going to be sure that folks don’t overspend. However , tons to share and hold following us. However sure, we might be supporting as many individuals as we are able to this winter so the extra donations the higher. There’s a donate meals button additionally on the web site. So we’ll work with any meals manufacturers, business companions, growers who’re in a position to hyperlink up with us that’d be nice.

Izzy

Great. Effectively thanks a lot. I’ve been chatting with Sarah Morison from UK Harvest so ensure you comply with UK Harvest and is it Nourish Hub?

Sarah

The Nourish Hub, sure. It’s our London Neighborhood Cafe. Nevertheless it’s all you possibly can see the hyperlink actually via at UK Harvest. Sarah Morison Great and ensure to take a look at the UK Harvest web site. You’ll be able to volunteer, you possibly can donate or simply take a look at their wonderful recipes. They obtained some very nice issues on there. So undoubtedly examine that out. You’ve obtained some casseroles, you’ve obtained some pies, every little thing, so undoubtedly in case you’re caught for recipes, undoubtedly take a look at UK harvest. We might be popping this dwell on our YouTube channel and on our web site. So you possibly can watch it again in case you’ve simply are available. And we’ll be linking to the UK Harvest web site so you will discover them there as properly.