Welsh businesses urged to donate surplus produce to fight food insecurity
by Ginette Davies · Wales OnlineEvery year, thousands of tonnes of perfectly edible food become surplus within the supply chain.
At the same time, organisations across Wales are helping people facing food insecurity, social isolation, and homelessness, while building stronger, more resilient communities.
The Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund is tackling this issue by inviting Welsh growers, manufacturers and food businesses to unlock the social and environmental value of their surplus produce.
The call comes as the sector faces twin pressures to control waste and support communities amid a cost-of-living squeeze.
At the same time, organisations across Wales are helping people facing food insecurity, social isolation, and homelessness, while building stronger, more resilient communities.
In practice, that means a simple, trusted route for businesses to ensure surplus reaches people rather than becoming waste, and to cover unavoidable costs that can make redistribution difficult, particularly for fresh, seasonal, or short-shelf-life produce - offering a practical solution for businesses.
FareShare Cymru, founded in 2010 and delivering food since 2011, exists to connect those dots: transforming surplus into social value by working with producers, manufacturers, retailers and growers to redistribute food where it’s needed most.
A spokesman for the fund said: “By bringing together food businesses, volunteers, community organisations and government partners, FareShare Cymru creates a circular solution that tackles food waste, strengthens communities and helps build a more sustainable food system for Wales.
“We also want to reach businesses that may not realise their surplus has value beyond the farm gate or factory floor, and who are looking for sustainable ways to reduce waste while supporting local communities.”
Having a positive impact
Piers Lunt, head grower at Bremenda Isaf Farm, said: “We have a mission to grow great quality, nutritious food for the public plate. But as with any food producer, there is always a surplus that needs to find a home. This fund has been absolutely instrumental in diverting surplus from waste.”
Louise Harry-Thomas from Paviland Farm said: “After the peak season for pumpkins had passed, we were left with a large quantity that didn’t have a commercial market.
“FareShare Cymru made it so easy to both donate the pumpkins to their network of charities and cover the costs of transporting them up to Cardiff.”
At Haverfordwest-based Puffin Produce, the fund aligned with staff values and sustainability commitments, covering harvesting and labour costs for donating what is otherwise commercially unviable surplus.
National account manager, Matthew Thomas, said: “When staff have grown and nurtured a crop, there is nothing worse for them than seeing food wasted.
“Not only do these donations help people in genuine need, but they also help towards our company's goal of reducing food waste in line with our commitment to the Courtauld Agreement 2025.”
A spokesman for Monarchs Crackers said: “The model ensures surplus food goes directly to people who need it most in Wales. Knowing our products will be distributed to local community organisations and families who benefit from nutritious, high-quality food makes us confident it will have the biggest positive impact.”
Practical support
The charity’s role sits within the wider Felix network, ensuring surplus food is redistributed rather than wasted. But FareShare Cymru is more than a logistics partner.
Alongside moving good food to where it can do the most good, it invests in people through employability and volunteering opportunities across its warehouse, logistics and community programmes, helping participants build confidence, gain practical skills and move closer to work.
It also helps frontline organisations make the most of what they receive. Through cooking demonstrations and recipe development led by a culinary lead, community groups are supported to use surplus ingredients creatively and confidently, reducing waste and delivering nutritious, affordable meals.
Together, these programmes deliver environmental, economic and community benefits, amplifying the impact of every donated crate.
Get involved
Whether you’re a farm, horticultural business, packhouse, manufacturer or processor, if you regularly generate surplus food and face costs that make donation unviable, the Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund can help.
FareShare Cymru manages the redistribution process and quality assurance to ensure food is handled safely and efficiently and that donations reach established charities, schools and community groups across Wales.
As the sector looks ahead to another year of unpredictable demand and shifting weather patterns, a flexible route for surplus can be the difference between crops left in the field and meals on the table. The Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund makes it easier than ever for Welsh food businesses to do the right thing with their surplus.