There’s nothing quite like food for bringing people together, and not many cities know that better than Melbourne. , a database that covers 100 cities in 44 countries, recently ranked the city as Australia’s most active food-sharing hotspot, awarding it number three in the world behind London and New York. Sydney ranked number five on the scale, with Berlin wedging itself in between Australia’s two most populated capitals. Adelaide also made the list, at number 13.
The database, a research project based at Trinty College Dublin, funded by the European Research Council, looks at diverse practices of urban food sharing and the technologies, and information that support those practices. It basically boils down to how often, and how systematically, people are giving their food to others, or doing things together that means they share and talk about food.
We have a food culture that brings people together, but at the same time, we have a visible food poverty issue.
Overall, Australia leads the way worldwide when assessing the average number of initiatives across our cities. With 76 initiatives on average in our cities, Australia is way ahead of the rest of the world, with the next biggest averages 45 in North America and 43 across Europe.
So, what makes Australia, and Melbourne in particular, so good at food sharing?
"Comparatively low urban density combined with a history of backyard growing and a rich heritage of immigrant farmers," Dr Ferne Edwards, SHARECITY researcher and Honorary Associate at RMIT University tells SBS. Dr Edwards compiled the data for the Australian and New Zealand sections of the SHARECITY100 database. She adds, "A foodie culture and a groundswell of sustainable food action have also combined to make Melbourne a lead food sharing city."
Sharing a celebrated food culture
Lucy Farmer, Communications Director at , Australia’s largest charity kitchen, seconds this observation of Melbourne. “We are a city that cares about food,” Farmer tells SBS. “We have a food culture that brings people together, but at the same time, we have a visible food poverty issue. I think it’s only natural that people celebrating [food culture] want to share it with those struggling to put food on the table, let alone a nourishing meal.”
FareShare’s mission is therefore simple. The charity rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and cooks it into nutritious meals for people in need. “Our cooked meals are provided free to charities such as soup vans, homeless shelters, women’s refuges and schools supporting disadvantaged students,” says Farmer. “We often hear that a cooked FareShare meal is the only meal of the day for a vulnerable person.”
Volunteers give their time and expertise in the FareShare kitchens. Image: Adrian Lander Source: FoodShare
We have a waiting list of more than 1000 wanting to become a FareShare volunteer.
Each week over 850 regular volunteers help collect, cook, grow and distribute food. The volunteers come from all walks of life and include students, working professionals and retirees. FareShares also operates kitchen shifts for Victorians on community-based orders, and for secondary school students and business volunteers.
“We have a waiting list of more than 1000 wanting to become a FareShare volunteer!” Farmer says, highlighting a tremendous willingness of Melburnians to volunteer to help those in need.
Trucking in the help
As Farmer highlights, the visibility of people in need may well be a factor in pushing them to want to become part of food-sharing culture. Across Australia, OzHarvest, collects excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it to over 1000 charities and people in need. Australia’s largest food rescue organisation began in Sydney in 2004 after founder Ronni Kahn noticed the huge volume of food going to waste in her local area. She delivered 4000 meals to the homeless from the back of her van in the first month.
The company continues to innovate on ways to share rescued food. In April this year, it opened Australia’s first rescued food supermarket, the OzHarvest Market in Sydney, which operates on a ‘take what you need, give if you can’ philosophy.
Ronni Khan at newly opened OzHarvest Market. "Feed Bellies, Not Bins" says the sign behind her. Source: OzHarvest / Livia Giacomini
The OzHarvest story was recently made into a , which is being released across Australia on 7 June. “In today’s society it’s inhumane to think how much perfectly edible food goes to waste, especially when millions of people still go hungry,” OzHarvest founder Ronni Khan tells SBS. “I hope everyone who sees the film will join the movement at .”
More people, more food, more places
Of course, food sharing is not always about providing food to others. is a Melbourne-based grassroots organisation that unlocks parcels of underutilised land to enable people to grow food themselves. The company slogan is “We want to see more people, growing more food, in more places.”
From vast carpark spaces to tiny suburban verges, the company has built gardens across Melbourne that encourage a food and resource-sharing culture within communities. Transferring skills from experienced gardener to novice is at the very core of what food-sharing is all about.
We may not speak the same language and yet still find connection and commonality over food.
Similarly, the team at supports community gardens, this time based in public housing estates. Daniyela Rob, Chief Executive, is a big believer in food sharing as a way to bring people together. “Food is like a language we all share - it connects us to each other,” she says. “We may not speak the same language and yet still find connection and commonality over food.”
Cultivating Community runs regular community events that are well attended by many in the community. The events highlight the important human experience of sharing food. “When I eat here and everyone is sitting around the table, it feels like a big, warm family,” says Minh, a recent attendee.
Bartering, sharing and rescuing fresh produce is an integral part of the food sharing ethos. Source: OzHarvest / Nikki To
The group also hosts monthly food swap events, encouraging people to bring in excess produce, homemade jams and plants and flowers to swap. “People are becoming more conscious about wasting food and I think there is a feel good factor and pride in sharing something you have grown yourself,” says Rob.
Back to bartering basics
The SHARECITY100 database shows that around . Organisations like , a community project, initiated by the are another group making bartering accessible. The non-profit provides a national directory for finding food co-ops, swap meets, community gardens, farmers markets, farm gates and even local ‘box systems’ where neighbours buy produce and other food together.
While Local Harvest began in Melbourne, it reaches Australia-wide. A good reminder that while SHARECITY100 may rank Melbourne number three for food-sharing, as a country Australia is easily number one in the world.
