OzHarvest’s social impact business, ForPurposeCo., has launched Juice For Good in a bottle, a product promoted as an orange juice with a difference, made from 100% imperfect Australian oranges.
Previously only sold from “innovative” vending machines, the juice is now available to buy in a bottle from 42 Woolworths Metro stores across Sydney. Every bottle includes a donation to OzHarvest to help provide a meal to someone in need.
OzHarvest founder and CEO Ronni Kahn says food waste in Australia is a $36 billion problem, with nearly half of all Australian grown fruit and vegetables failing to leave the farm.
“Not only is Juice For Good a delicious drink,” she says, “it’s [also] helping to fight food waste and supporting Aussie farmers by finding a home for blemished oranges that aren’t perfect enough for the produce aisle.”
ForPurposeCo. Head Sam Sgambellone says, as a social enterprise, his organisation is always looking for win-win situations where a customer gets a great product that does good along the way.
“Now more than ever, consumers are looking for products that are natural, sustainable and make them feel good and empowered about their buying decisions,” he says. “Retailers, like consumers, can use their buying power to have a positive impact by stocking products that are better for customers, society and the planet.”
To ensure “absolutely nothing” goes to waste, any extra bottles of Juice For Good made will be donated to schools in need.
A call-out for retailers
Any retailers with quality surplus food can support OzHarvest by becoming a food donor, says Mr Sgambellone.
“As part of the national target to halve food waste by 2030, any business with food waste should be actively looking for ways to reduce it,” he says. “With 7.6 million tonnes of food wasted in Australia every year, we all need to play our part [FIAL, ‘National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study’, 2021].
“Donating food supports OzHarvest’s mission to stop good food from going to waste and feed hungry people, and helps retailers reduce their waste, disposal costs and support their local community.”
Mr Sgambellone says that after its successful rollout with Woolworths, Juice For Good is beginning to explore other retail channels.
“Any retailer that would like to explore stocking the product can reach out via the Juice For Good website,” he says.
“The hope is that this is the first of many products that support OzHarvest and its mission, both under the Juice For Good brand and in other food lines.
“OzHarvest and ForPurposeCo are always on the lookout for innovative products that can help reduce waste, address sustainability issues within food systems and ultimately support OzHarvest.”
This article is published in the September issue of Convenience World.
