33,000 Serves of Fresh Fruit

Shepparton Foodshare is pleased to announce a new partnership with Redland Fruit that will see more than 5,000 kilograms of fruit, equating to 33,000 serves, donated to the vital local food relief service.  This combined with other generous local fruit donations will enable nutritious fresh fruit to be packed into food boxes distributed to local people experiencing food insecurity.

Shepparton Foodshare Executive Officer, Dee Healey said, “Fresh fruit is a necessary food staple required for our food boxes, it's a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fibre which supports good health.  We are so fortunate to operate in a region known as the food bowl of Australia.  However, donations of fruit is often seasonal so this partnership means we receive a weekly delivery, helping to ensure fruit is available to those that need it most year-round.”

Redland operates packing and processing facilities across Victoria and Queensland, including right here in Mooroopna.

A long-term supporter of Shepparton Foodshare, Redland stepped in to continue a vital community partnership when it took over the local processing site a few years ago, the same site where Foodshare was previously based. Without hesitation, Redland maintained the arrangement to provide warehouse space free of charge, ensuring Foodshare could continue its operations.  This support remained in place until Foodshare’s new food relief warehouse and distribution centre was completed, enabling a smooth and seamless transition.

Redland CEO, James Campbell said, “This partnership is one small but meaningful way we can continue to contribute to the community that’s been part of the Redland’s story for many years.  Food security is a growing challenge across regional communities, and we’re committed to doing our part to ensure more people have access to healthy, nutritious food.”

With a footprint covering the length and breadth of Australia – including many regional areas, Redland is committed to supporting the wellbeing and resilience of the communities where it operates. That commitment is reflected in its ongoing partnership with Shepparton Foodshare, providing weekly fruit donations to help local families in need.

Shepparton Foodshare is an active member of the Regional Food Security Alliance (RFSA), an alliance of community-owned, place-based Regional Food Hubs across regional Victoria who work together to reduce the inequity in food security between regional and metropolitan Victorians.

Dee said, “Redland’s support of the regional communities in which it operates helps to reduce this inequity and is very timely as the need for food relief locally continues to grow. The last two years we distributed over 480,000 kilograms of food annually, or the equivalent of almost 1 million meals each year, a 30% increase since 2023.”

In total, Shepparton Foodshare has distributed 5 million kilos of food, or the equivalent of 10 million meals, to people in need.

Food is distributed for free to registered emergency relief agencies, schools, meals programs, faith organisations, neighbourhood houses and more. The people supported by these agencies include individuals, families, children, people experiencing homelessness and people from our multicultural community.