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Students’ startup saves 600,000kg of veggies from landfill

(Source: Bigstock)

Startup Farmers Pick has saved 600,000 kgs of produce from going to waste amid a growing national food crisis.

Farmers Pick says food waste is responsible for 8 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions while nearly 5 million Australians experience food insecurity.

Joshua Ball and Joshua Brooks-Duncan founded the company in 2020 to offer a cost-effective, environmentally friendly option for food shopping. The pair would collect rejected fruits and vegetables from supermarkets and deliver them directly to customers’ doorsteps.

Since its launch, they have been inundated with requests for all types of living arrangements. The Farmers Pick boxes usually contain seasonal produce sourced from farmers.

“The positive feedback we’ve had from our community is incredible and we’re focused on fighting the good fight to end food waste and keep prices of produce low for our customers,” said Duncan.

The pair have delivered over 60,000 boxes across two states boasting an active customer base of 4000 subscribers and operations have now expanded into rural Victoria.

Late this month, the company is planning to launch a crowdfunding campaign.

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