FREEGAN calls on supermarkets to join food rescue programme

FREEGAN Foundation is inviting Carrefour, Fairway, Market Garden and other supermarkets and wholesalers to join its food rescue programme. The foundation said it can collect surplus food that businesses would otherwise leave unused and redistribute it to households needing assistance.

FREEGAN said it rescues about 2,000 kilograms of surplus food a week through donations from DIVICO, Lucky's, KAMS, Super LU, NEC and Cost-U-Less. It said its Food Market is operating at full capacity and that about 100 families are on a waiting list for food assistance.

The foundation cited St. Maarten's 2022 Census, which found that 7.1% of residents reported hunger because they could not afford food. It also cited St. Maarten Development Fund figures putting 25.5% of households in relative poverty.

FREEGAN encouraged supermarkets and wholesalers to track and publicly report the amount of edible food they discard. It said it is prepared to work with interested businesses on collection arrangements.