Food things you should know

The first "zero-dollar supermarket" appeared in Adelaide, southern Australia. It was established by the food organization "OzHarvest". Every week, a fleet of vehicles collects edible waste to create a free supermarket so that disadvantaged groups can purchase with dignity and fully solve the problem of food waste. In addition, there is also a book cabinet, so that food and books can be recycled.

If there really is a "zero-dollar supermarket", what would you expect it to look like? The first free supermarket in Adelaide, South Australia, has opened for business to help more people in economic difficulties buy food for three meals a day. The supermarket has a complete inventory and specializes in supplying goods that were originally destined for landfills, from fresh fish, meat, vegetables and fruits to flour, sugar, salt, canned basic foods, daily necessities, etc., all of which are "rescued" from the supply chain and provided to communities in need.

Nearly 4 million people in Australia face food insecurity, zero-dollar supermarkets become a relief

The pioneer in implementing this plan is the food rescue organization "OzHarvest", which was founded by Ronni Kahn in Sydney in 2004. It has long been committed to rescuing surplus food and transporting goods that are generally classified as "edible waste" to charities to take care of hungry families. Every week, the conspicuous fleet of yellow trucks can rescue more than 250 tons of food from 2,600 food donors and then transfer it to 1,500 charities. This zero-dollar supermarket, which officially opened in August, replicates the successful model implemented in Sydney in 2017, establishing a non-capitalist but continuous consumer experience base; on the one hand, it reduces edible waste to protect the earth, on the other hand, it feeds families with financial difficulties, and finally, it gives disadvantaged groups the dignified purchasing right (instead of accepting with their hands up).

In 2024, 3.7 million households in Australia will struggle to have enough food for three meals a day, and 77% of them will experience food insecurity for the first time. Surprisingly, 60% of them are employed full-time. This phenomenon shows that the pressure of rising rents, living expenses, and bills makes it impossible for people to take care of basic food and living. Since the "OzHarvest Zero Dollar Supermarket" is a space arranged and served by volunteers, it is only open 3 days a week (Tuesday to Thursday); the Adelaide branch specially arranges the opening hours on Wednesdays from 3pm to 7pm to take care of office workers. Picking up a basket, shopping for groceries, planning meals and interacting with people is a new experience for many who visit OzHarvest and a big step back into a normal eating routine.

OzHarves provides a dedicated vehicle to collect leftover food from donors throughout the year. (Photo source: OzHarves official website )

Public bookshelves become food storage cabinets, and people spontaneously donate food

In addition to the zero-dollar supermarket in Adelaide, other parts of Australia have also seen different approaches to contribute to this social issue. Public libraries, which are sized and shaped like doll houses, have always been a common sight in suburban Victoria, allowing people to freely donate and borrow books, responding to the book-for-book exchange and nurturing the reading culture of the community. Now, libraries in some towns have been given a new mission, which is to add the function of "food storage cabinets", allowing local residents and even passers-by to freely donate or take food.

United Way, a charity in Glenelg Shire in southwestern Victoria, noticed during the global pandemic that the community needed food more than books, so it began replacing some of the books with packaged foods such as jam, canned goods, and baked goods. The bookshelves in the streets and alleys of the county are hand-painted with bright colors and patterns, and are highly suitable for children to open. They are welcoming and generous, making them easy for schoolchildren to access and use, so that they no longer have to go to school on an empty stomach. The free food storage cabinets are a stopgap measure, allowing families who are suddenly faced with difficulties or are too embarrassed to register with social assistance agencies to have a quiet and respite buffer. The charity still provides free wooden food storage cabinets to communities in need, all of which are completed by local carpenters who donate their wood and skills, and local painters who contribute their talents to paint. Of course, the cycle of love from the public continues to enrich the food storage cabinets.

The Sunshine Coast Council in Queensland recently partnered with the Eaton Park Community Group to build a book and food cabinet that is the size of a full-wall bookcase and is made of iron with an eaves to provide free books and food to care for local residents. The new project was initiated with a $10,000 funding from the council, and is implemented and maintained by the Eaton Park Community Group, so that those who are struggling to make ends meet can rely on it, further strengthening the concept of a physical mutual aid network between the community, making the overall atmosphere of the community more harmonious, more hopeful and vibrant. Anyone in need can freely take the food in the book and food cabinet, while knowing that they have the support of the council and the community behind them. From another perspective, this project also provides an opportunity for relatively capable people to contribute to the community, not only to gather the power of adults to build community stability, but also to pass on the concept of civic spirit to the next generation.

Whether it is a zero-dollar supermarket or a public food library, the biggest driving force is still human compassion. From the surplus "ugly fruits and vegetables" in the farm, the unsold bread and pastries in the bakery, to the groceries that are about to expire, and the harvest that cannot be eaten in the family garden, they may all be a satisfying meal for someone. "Give what you can and take what you need" may be the concept of mutual assistance in food and life that every community needs in this economic recession.

The Sunshine Coast City Council in Queensland has collaborated with the Eden Garden community organization to create a physical library so that people can freely donate food and books. (Photo source: Sunshine Coast Council official website )

[This article is the author's opinion and does not represent the position of this media]

Review Editor: Lin Yuting