Chefs' surplus food helps feed needy at Christmas

Food which might otherwise go to waste is being collected to help feed Adelaide's needy over Christmas.

OzHarvest's tree of goodness grows more colourful as donations are made.(OzHarvest)

The organisation OzHarvest visits restaurants and other outlets to collect their excess food.

Celebrity Adelaide chef Simon Bryant told 891 ABC Adelaide he was very happy to support efforts to overcome the estimated $8 billion of annual food waste in Australia.

"If you go to a restaurant, we [the chefs] have to over-order to give choice and that is a no-brainer, the initiative set up by OzHarvest, because all you have to do in the industry is [contact] them and they come round with their little yellow van," he said.

Bryant said the food was then delivered to charities or individuals so it did not get wasted.

"Some people are not going to have such a great Christmas because they're not so fortunate, so they'll be getting some pretty good tucker courtesy of OzHarvest," he said.

The organisation has also set up a Christmas tree of sorts at the Adelaide Central Market, where people can donate or buy fundraising products in the week leading up to Christmas Day.

For every item purchased or donation made, a decoration will be added to the tree, highlighting the number of meals contributed.

Chef Simon Bryant

 "People can visit the Tree of Goodness, donate or purchase a Christmas gift and help to decorate the tree with yellow," Bryant explained.

"For every item purchased or donation made, a decoration will be added to the tree, highlighting the number of meals contributed."

OzHarvest manager Hayley Everuss said all the money raised fed the needy.

"Every dollar donated means we can deliver two more meals for men, women and children in our community who are doing it tough," she said.

The Tree of Goodness market stall is at the Gouger Street end of the market until Christmas Eve.

OzHarvest said since it had started collecting food surplus from the Central Market in 2011 it had delivered more than 100,000 meals to people in need.

Source : 891 ABC Adelaide    December 18th 2014