An open letter to the students of Durham University,
If you were asked to list the biggest challenges faced both globally or, perhaps more relatable to you, in the North East, what would you say?
I imagine you’d reel off a list of justified causes, all worthy of our concern and attention, and hopefully somewhere on that list would lie food waste and the reality of those without access to nutritious, affordable food (food insecurity). Why these challenges in particular you might wonder? Whilst around three million people in the UK are thought to be malnourished* eighteen million tonnes of food goes to Landfill each year.
10% of children in the UK live in food insecurity, yet nearly half of fruit and veg is thrown away on aesthetics alone. The North East has the second highest poverty rate in the country, yet household waste in the area remains over 1 million metric tonnes. So I suppose this begs the question:
How can it be that there is so much food waste in times of such dire food insecurity?
Perfectly good food is being thoughtlessly discarded, whilst poverty levels in the UK are rising. The fact that both of these problems are endemic is infuriating. So, when I saw a post on Overheard at Durham from a little team called The Ugly Fruit Group, stating that they were looking for volunteers to help tackle these intertwined and ever-worsening problems in the local area, I knew I wanted to be involved.
At the Ugly Fruit Group, we do our best to help tackle both food insecurity and food waste in Durham and the surrounding areas. We receive donations of ‘ugly’ fresh fruit and vegetables that otherwise would not be sold from supermarkets and distribute the freshest to local food banks. This is particularly important as food bank parcels provide almost 50% less than the recommended amount of Vitamins A, C, D and E. Such vitamin deficiencies have a significant impact on energy levels and wellbeing. The lethargy and ongoing health issues caused can make it harder for individuals to break free from food insecurity and partake in social causes.
Whatever can’t be donated but is still edible is used to make long-life sustainable snacks which are sold to raise money to help us continue the project. So far, we have saved over 300kg of fruit and veg, donated 120 packages to local foodbanks, and provided 1080 fruit and veg supplements. It’s been an interesting but rewarding journey. Covid-19 has repetitively thrown a spanner in the works, but despite the challenges, the team has grown arms and legs with us currently having over 46 volunteering members. We have a regular stall over at the Scoop store in the Riverwalk and have managed to sustain multiple donations a week to three food banks that we’re partnered with. Though the problems of food insecurity and food waste often feel like a tidal wave, we are doing our best at having a positive impact on the local area. Though I am extremely proud of the work we do, it is frustrating that we are still needed at all.
There are two main components to our action: to fight against food insecurity and to fight against food waste. The first, more macro-level approach, is by demanding policy change.
But what if I told you that there are easy ways to implement change and that you can do them at home yourself? Both food waste and food insecurity are issues that most students care about in some way, shape, or form. But, hear me out, sometimes this caring is misplaced – and saying you care means a lot less if your actions don’t align with your words. Caring is the first step on a long journey of change, and it is important to recognise how many of these different issues within society are all directly linked to each other. In order to enact change, we need to remember to keep our outlook open and inclusive; if we don’t, we risk isolating the very groups of people we are trying to help. Whilst it is important to make practical swaps and campaign for policy change, as you likely see advocated across social media, it is also important to remember that this is not some far away issue, and to keep people at the centre of our actions.
There is a tendency for these issues to be reduced to dinner table debates. The controversialist of the room, who loves to say they’re ‘just playing devil’s advocate’, blames food insecurity on the individuals. Why should the government help them? They should get a job, they say.
People struggling with these real issues deserve more than a jump to their defence conceptually. We need practical change, and we need it now.
Are you one of the people that genuinely wants to help, but perhaps unintentionally missed the mark? You’re not alone and we want to help. Here’s a small list of ideas on how you can start to help tackle food insecurity in Durham:
Align your actions with your words. Hopefully by now you have realised that this issue is deep rooted but often doing the right thing can start from a simple second thought to that all-too-normalised action. Not going to eat those last two slices of pizza tonight? You’ve eaten most of it, they could just go in the bin…but how about keeping them to take to the library for lunch tomorrow! Your berries got a little squashed in the bottom of the shopping bag? You could throw them away…but wouldn’t they taste incredible in a smoothie! When you notice people around you doing things that you know will directly contribute to food waste, let them know. You don’t have to get angry at them. Instead, inspire that second thought.
Be mindful of how you (and others) talk. Unlearning bias can be a difficult job, but it is one we need to do. If you’ve never faced food insecurity, or seen anyone experience it, well-intended words can sometimes miss the mark. Try not to talk about it as a problem that is far away – you don’t necessarily know that the people listening haven’t faced something similar themselves. By now you are hopefully aware that this is an issue which has in fact been right beside you throughout your entire time in Durham. If someone opens up to you, try not to condescend, and remember that their lived experience isn’t something up for debate. Let’s try to stop the stigma surrounding food insecurity.
Be a conscious consumer. If you have time to sign up to be a volunteer or have the funds to donate, brilliant! But realistically not everybody does, and the act of supporting does not have to be a time intensive process. Come visit our TUFG stalls, and if you like the look of things make a purchase or two. You could switch to buying your dried groceries from Scoop. They donate their profits to local charities, with the donations split corresponding to the amount of votes each charity receives from the customers. Last term, they supported Fareshare, who help tackle hunger and food insecurity in the local area. Similarly, if your college doesn’t already have a food bank donation setup, consider chatting with the staff about starting one.
Avoid large supermarkets where possible because they’re the biggest contributors to food waste. If there are a few items you do still need from these stores, try starting your shop in the reduced aisle to find some perfectly edible hidden treasures before they are thrown out. For the rest, consider switching to the Fruiterers in the market or Robinsons on North Road for your fruit and vegetables. If you eat meat, have a look around for a local butcher. Shop small and local, and don’t underestimate the benefits of a meal plan.
