Polish govt launches food bank drive for excess produce - FreshFruitPortal.com

Polish govt launches food bank drive for excess produce

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Polish govt launches food bank drive for excess produce

A surplus of perishable produce due to the Russian embargo is to be diverted to Poland's food banks to help feed the nationā€™s poorest families.Ā Sprouts sq

In a bid to prevent tons of produce - including apples, cabbage, pepper and sprouts - from rotting and going to waste, the Polish Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development has announced it will donate much of the produce to poverty-stricken families across the country.

Officials are preparing an action plan to redirect the food and must donate the vegetables, previously destined for the Russian market, quickly before they spoil. Exact amounts are not yet known.

The Federation of Polish Food Banks forms part of a European network of charitable food banks aiming to alleviate hunger and waste, and as an organization is adept at distributing high volumes of food.

The ministry held a press conference on August 12 to explain how it would withdraw produce from the market, and reroute it to the charitable organization that has more than 30 banks dotted around the country.

During the conference, government officials also spoke about the need for biodegradation at farm level in order to prevent a further surplus of fresh produce.

In addition, a statement from the Federation of Polish Food Banks explains it is ready to receive the surplus food and encourages individual growers and processors to communicate directly with local food banks for future donations.

Meanwhile, Polandā€™s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Marek Sawicki is due to hold talks with EU Agricultural & Rural Development Commissioner Dacian Cioloș in Brussels soon, but no date has been fixed.

Discussions will focus on compensation for the Polish producers worst hit by the Russian import ban on a raft of agricultural produce.

For more information on stories relating to the Russian import ban, click here.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

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