Funky Food is calling on farmers across Queensland and northern New South Wales to redirect surplus and cosmetically-imperfect fruit and vegetables to Australian households instead of landfill.
With rising costs in growing, harvesting and transporting food – and ongoing seasonal challenges – the Brisbane produce rescue business is seeking small to medium-sized farms who are left with produce that is difficult to sell through traditional retail channels.
This includes seasonal overflow, undersized or oversized items and fruit and vegetables that remain perfectly edible but fail to meet supermarket cosmetic standards.
Founder Kamran Kasaei-Nejad said the business was built on strong relationships with growers and a shared mission to reduce waste. “We hear it time and time again from farmers, perfectly edible produce is being rejected for reasons that have nothing to do with quality,” Mr Kasaei-Nejad said.
“Our model is about creating another pathway to market, helping farmers recover value from their crops while reducing waste and feeding households at the same time.”
Funky Food is inviting growers with surplus or imperfect produce who want a transparent alternative to dumping crops and who are committed to reducing food waste.
While farms within one to two hours of Brisbane are preferred, the company is open to working with more distant producers depending on logistics and volume.
Supply arrangements range from one-off loads to ongoing partnerships.
“We don’t need semi-trailer loads or perfect-looking produce,” Mr Kasaei-Nejad said. “If it’s fresh, safe and edible, we want to hear from you.”
Funky Food delivers rescued produce boxes to homes across South East Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne, often at prices up to 30 per cent lower than supermarkets.
Mr Kasaei-Nejad said growing household demand reflected both rising grocery prices and concern over food waste. “
This is about backing farmers, backing common sense, and making sure the hard work that goes into growing food doesn’t end in landfill,” he said.
Farmers interested in partnering can contact Katy Lysaught at Funky Food via email or mobile.
The Facts:
Food Waste in Australia
* End Food Waste Australia is leading the way in improving the sustainability of the Australian food system through research and evidence-based solutions.
* In Australia, about 7.7 million meals are discarded daily, with households contributing 32 per cent of that waste, costing the economy an estimated $36.6 billion annually.
The average household wastes 4kg of food each week, amounting to roughly $3000 per year.
“Reducing food waste isn’t just an environmental or economic issue — it’s a social imperative. If Australia successfully halves food waste by 2030 — an ambitious goal — FIAL estimates this could unlock $54 billion in benefits, significantly reduce emissions and ensure more food reaches those who need it most.“
Australian national food waste strategy feasibility study by Food Innovation Australia (FIAL):
* Australia wastes 7.6 million tonnes of food annually; that’s enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground 10 times over.
* 70 per cent of this waste could have been avoided, representing billions of lost meals and an economic impact of $36.6 billion.
* Household waste alone costs Australians $19.3 billion per year.
* Shoppers reported saving around $63 on a produce haul, by ordering a box of “misshapen” produce.
