The initiative is thanks to Australia’s leading food rescue organisation OzHarvest, who is teaming up with the United Nations Environment Program and the UN’s Food Agriculture Organisation Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction in the ‘Think.Eat.Save’ campaign. 

“In Australia it's estimated that 1 in 5 bags of groceries the average family buys ends up in landfill,” Sapphire Coast REAP Coordinator, Christine Welsh, explained. “That's over $10 billion worth of food just thrown away.”

REAP Sapphire Coast is the regional arm of OzHarvest in south eastern NSW, and is one of only two regional branches of OzHarvest hosting an event as part of the campaign. 

A delicious lunch made from rescued surplus and donated food will be served to community leaders, business people and the general public. The meal will be prepared by REAP Sapphire Coast’s celebrity chef Paul West, from River Cottage Australia, and local chefs and volunteers. 

Mr West will be speaking about the importance of not wasting food, and about food security and sustainability. Other notable speakers include Uncle Ossie Cruse, Dr Mike Kelly, and Elvis Amair, group manager with the Environment and Sustainability department of Bega Cheese.  

“We will be asking attendees to make a pledge - to THINK about what they are buying and eating; to EAT what they have bought; and to SAVE food from landfill,” Ms Welsh said. “So please come along, enjoy a free meal, and learn about what you can do about food sustainability and eliminating food waste.”

The event will begin at 1.30pm at Jigamy Farm on Monday, July 27.