Dartington food rescue group expands to tackle UK farm waste and aid communities
A Dartington-based community interest company is expanding its efforts to redistribute surplus farm produce, highlighting a practical model to combat the millions of tonnes of edible food wasted annually in the UK.
Food in Community, a Dartington-based organisation, is seeking to expand its operations to rescue more surplus food from local growers. For 14 years, the community interest company has collected unwanted crops to reduce waste and improve access to sustainably produced food.
The initiative addresses a substantial economic and environmental inefficiency in the agricultural sector. Research conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature and Tesco in 2022 estimated that 2.9 million tonnes of edible food is lost or wasted annually on UK farms.
Chantelle Norton, a director at Food in Community, emphasised the broader resource implications of this waste. She noted that the organisation values not only the nutritional content of the food, but also the farmer’s time, the water used in production, and the care invested in the crop.
To capture this lost value, the group coordinates free doorstep deliveries for individuals referred to the service, typically those facing particular need or difficult circumstances. Box manager Sandra Crawford explained that these provisions are usually offered for a limited period of up to six months.
Any leftover produce is redirected to food banks, community fridges, lunch clubs, and youth groups. The group currently operates mainly in Devon, with some items sent to Cornwall, and aims to partner with more farmers, volunteers, and businesses to scale its impact.
Local agricultural producers are already integrating this model into their operations. Farmer Lloyd Stone, who supplies Riverford Organic Farmers near Ashburton, has donated produce to the initiative for two years.
Stone highlighted that recent growing conditions have been particularly favourable for courgettes, some of which become too large for standard retail. While livestock can consume these oversized vegetables, redirecting them for human use provides additional economic and social value.
The redistributed food also supports local youth services. Totnes Rural Area Youth Engagement has received free fruit and vegetable boxes from the organisation for the past two years to support its nine youth clubs across south Devon.
Youth worker Kerry McCain stated that access to locally sourced produce makes a significant difference for the young people they serve. The initiative also encourages youth involvement in meal preparation and communal dining.
