Milton Keynes farmer partners with charities to combat food insecurity
Patch MK will be growing pumpkins and squash specifically to be donated to charities
A Milton Keynes farm is amongst food producers and suppliers taking action to combat food insecurity by donating food surpluses to charities.
The initiative is run by The Felix Project, an organisation that rescue good, surplus food from the food industry that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste to deliver it to hundreds of food banks, charities and primary schools in London.
Through the project, Patch MK, farmers located on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, will be donating pumpkins and squash in weeks to come.
"...we do have land, and that can make a difference."
Joe Gurney, director of Patch MK, said: "We’re growing crops to be distributed among charities who help feed people in need.
"At the moment, we’re focusing on squash and pumpkins, targeting specific demographics identified by The Felix Project in London and Greater London."
"We want to highlight to other farming businesses that there are opportunities to help without a huge detriment to profit.
"We may not have the resources of large philanthropists, but we do have land, and that can make a difference."
The Patch MK’s approach aims to tackle food waste while also providing a steady supply of food to charities.
In previous years, surplus crops that couldn’t be sold were donated. However, this created logistical issues, as large amounts of food would become available at once, leaving charities struggling to distribute it before it spoiled.
To solve this, the farm now plans ahead, growing specific quantities of produce that can be processed and stored more efficiently.
A key aspect of the project is making the produce easier to use.
Mr Gurney said: "We’re working to process the squashes and pumpkins into forms that are accessible, like 500-gram cubed bags that can be boiled or roasted easily."
This, he explained, helps charities and individuals alike, as many may not be familiar with how to prepare the raw vegetables.
The involvement of farmers and supermarkets alike is key to providing fresh produce to those in need.
"It’s never going to completely solve the problem, but it’s a way of making more food available to more people. Anything that helps is a massive help."
The Felix Project estimated that in 2022/23 in the UK, 17% of children, 11% of working-age adults and 3% of pensioners were in food insecure households.
The further estimated that in 2023 alone, 7.2 million households were deemed to be food insecure in the UK.
For Patch MK, being involved in the project is essential to helping reduce food insecurity.
"The amount of children in London alone who only get one meal a day is absolutely terrifying", added Mr Gurney.
"It’s never going to completely solve the problem, but it’s a way of making more food available to more people. Anything that helps is a massive help," he said.
The project is currently in full swing, with harvest time for the pumpkins and squashes approaching.
Corporate volunteers from a local company will assist with the harvest, providing free labour to ensure the produce gets to those who need it.