Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

A significant amount of produce that cannot be sold is collected daily on the Viennese markets. What happens to the fruit, vegetables, and dairy products that can still be consumed? The Vienna Market Association found a solution in cooperation with a civil society organisation called “Wiener Tafel”. The leftover food is collected and distributed to the socially vulnerable population.

“As a public service, we advocate that the food should not be wasted, but also that the food that is meant to be distributed is safe for consumption. The markets are only offering perfect fruit, vegetables, and dairy products because otherwise, the customers would simply go to the supermarkets”, said Alexander Hengl from Vienna Markets. The Vienna Market Association has been cooperating with Wiener Tafel since 2011. Every day, around 400 volunteers from this organisation collect unsold goods and deliver them to 117 social service institutions across Vienna; these institutions include homeless shelters, women’s homes, public kitchens, addiction treatment centres, refugee camps.

This type of cooperation preserves resources, prevents the accumulation of waste, and protects the environment. A facility containing a warehouse, refrigerators and which will include a kitchen in the future, was built on the large Vienna Market; this facility was built in order to increase the amount of “saved” produce. The plan is to double the amount of preserved goods in the next three years and to provide food for 24 thousand people belonging to various vulnerable groups.

Source www.eurocommpr.at