On Thursday, hundreds of volunteers, staff members, managers, and even a small child worked together to load more than 700 boxes of salvaged food that were going to be distributed to low-income families throughout the city, turning the floor of the Emirates Foundation building in Al Qana into a busy produce market. The crates were filled to overflowing with fresh tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, dates, cheese, and other foods that are safe to eat but cannot be sold or served because of tiny flaws that make them less aesthetically pleasing.
The UAE’s growing Food Rescue Programme, which aims to guarantee that excess food is safely redistributed rather than wasted, includes the Family Iftar Box Programme, which is run by ne’ma, the country’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative. In order to divert food and distribute it to those in need, the program involves partners from all points of the food value chain, including the hospitality industry, food producers, and distributors.
In collaboration with Takatof, the effort distributes excess food from farmers, wholesalers, and retailers to low-income recipients in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra, and Al Ain. Fresh produce, staple cereals, protein sources, and necessary pantry goods are all included in each package. The program has received operational funding from Hotpack Global and assistance in identifying priority communities from the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.
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