OPENING TIMES:
Wednesdays 5pm - 7:30pm Fridays 3pm - 6pm
MFF Community Fridge
On Wednesday 19th July 2023, Marsh Farm Futures launched Luton’s first ever ‘Community Fridge’, as part of The Community Fridge Network in a growing effort to tackle food waste. It will then be open on selected days in July and August. The fridge, located at Futures House, will enable residents and businesses to share surplus food and for anyone to help themselves to quality food that would otherwise be wasted.
Marsh Farm Futures is calling all local food businesses/ allotment holders in Luton to donate surplus food from 19th July 2023 onwards. Food waste is a big issue in the UK. The average household throws away £700 worth of food every year and at the same time 4 million people in the UK are living in food poverty. Most food waste in the UK is avoidable and could have been eaten had it been better managed.
Louise, Olli, Joshua and Hannah from London Luton Airport attended the launch with the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and helped officially open the fridge. LLA donated cupcakes to the fridge to celebrate their 85th birthday, and have supported this project through it’s Greener Futures Fund which is managed by BLCF. Donations were made by local businesses such as Nisa, Tescos and Futures Café.
The fridge is one of a growing number opening up across the UK. The concept first arrived in the UK in 2016 with Community Fridges opening up in Swadlincote, Frome and London. Now over 50 projects are running across the country. Some of the challenges faced by Community Fridges to-date are around the legal requirements and food hygiene. The world’s first Community Fridge Network has been set up by environmental charity Hubbub to provide free advice and support to Community Fridge organisers and act as a hub to enable communities to share their experiences and learn from each other. All of the team working on our community fridge have received full food hygiene training and our fridge undergoes regular cleaning. Initially we are only accepting donations from registered food business but aim to open donations up to the community in due course.
To find out more about the MFF Community Fridge, donate, or volunteer email: community@marshfarmfutures.co.uk
