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Second Harvest Nelson Tasman

A community initiative reducing food waste by rescuing surplus produce — the fruit and vegetables that never reach shops because of cosmetic flaws — and getting it to people who need it.

Nelson Tasman's renowned horticulture produces abundant crops, yet many perfectly edible fruits and vegetables never reach consumers. Second Harvest bridges that gap: a network connecting growers with volunteers and charities across the region.

What the team did

The team targeted fruits and vegetables not suitable for retail due to cosmetic flaws. Volunteers collected these overlooked treasures — like the persimmons and apples pictured in their harvests — and distributed them to people in need throughout the Nelson Tasman region.

Rather than build everything from scratch, they piloted the model in partnership with existing food-rescue organisations, and developed a plan for how a regular Second Harvest event could run in Te Tauihu.

Key learnings