New partnership is the cherry on top

In terms of fruit weight, it equates to 33,000 serves.

It’s how much Redland Fruit has pledged to donate to local food relief service Shepparton Foodshare over the next 12 months.

Combined with other local fruit donations, this partnership will mean nutritious fresh fruit will be packed into food boxes that are distributed to local people who are experiencing food insecurity.

“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,” Shepparton Foodshare executive officer Dee Healey said.

“We are so fortunate to operate in a region known as the food bowl of Australia; however, donation 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 in Mooroopna.

A long-term supporter of Shepparton Foodshare, Redland continued the existing community partnership when it took over the local processing site a few years ago, Foodshare’s former base.

Redland provided warehouse space for free so that Foodshare could continue its operations until its purpose-built warehouse and distribution centre in Doonan St, Mooroopna, was built.

“This partnership is one small but meaningful way we can continue to contribute to the community that’s been part of the Redland story for many years,” Redland chief executive James Campbell said.

“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.”

He said Redland was committed to supporting the communities it operated within, including many regional areas.

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

“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,” Ms Healey said.

“The last two years we distributed over 480,000 kg of food annually, or the equivalent of almost one million meals each year; a 30 per cent increase since 2023.”

Shepparton Foodshare distributes food for free to registered emergency relief agencies, schools, meals programs, faith organisations, neighbourhood houses and more.