Fruit Group
What is TUFG?
WHAT WE DO
The Ugly Fruit Group is a social enterprise founded as an Enactus project by students at Durham University in 2019. Through our three pillars, Reusing, Donating and Educating we aim further our philosophy of fighting hunger by reducing food waste.
Fruit and vegetables destined for the waste bin are donated by local wholesalers and supermarkets. The ripest produce, which needs to be used as soon as possible, is preserved using traditional methods and turned into delicious fruity snacks. These are then sold to you guys! All the money raised goes to maintaining and growing our project.
Reuse
The best quality fruit and vegetables we receive are donated in weekly food boxes to those in our local area who need it most. This is done through our partnerships with local food banks. All the produce we receive can be stored and transported.
Donate
Through our social media and university stalls we aim to change the perception of how food should look. We teach people how to cook and eat products that are riper and less aesthetic than usual. We believe all fruit and vegetables are delicious, no matter how different they look!
Educate
So far we have...
Saved
2740k g
of fruit and veg.
Prevented
3557kg
of CO2 emmissions
Saved
6503
meals worth of fruit & veg
Prevented
533850l
of wasted water
Supported
3
local food banks
THE PROBLEM
Now more than ever before there is an inconsistency in the food ecosystem: over 800 million people world-wide go to bed hungry everyday, yet food waste is reaching unprecedented levels. The situation in the UK can be summarised by these 5 facts:
Food waste from Europe and the USA alone could solve world hunger four times over. Not only is food waste damaging to the environment as more trees are cut down for farmland and more water is used in food production, but it is also damaging for developing countries. Increased demand for food drives world prices up.
70%
In the UK
of fruit and veg is thrown away.
data taken from a WRAP 2012 publication
Almost 45% of food waste happens before the food even reaches stores. For example, due to food specifications, if a red onion is below 40 mm in diameter it will not be sold. Here at The Ugly Fruit Group we believe that all fruit and vegetables are delicious regardless of how different they are!
In the UK
data taken from a WRAP 2012 publication
40%
of fruit and veg is wasted on aesthetics alone.
Families' reliance on food banks has increased: families are returning to food banks 10-15 times a row compared to an average of just 2-3 times two years ago.
In the UK
data taken from Statista.
2%
of families used a food bank in 2019.
Severe food insecurity means that families are unable to provide the required nutrition for children without extra support. This percentage makes the UK one of the worst ranked developed countries worldwide.
In the UK
data from a UNICEF study published in 2017
10%
of children live in severe food insecurity.
This is because food banks offer little to no fresh fruit and vegetables. That's where we come in!
Food bank parcels provide almost
data from a 2018 report by the Trussel Trust
50%
less than the recomended amount of vit. A,C, D and E.
MEET THE TEAM
Amy Jiang
Co-Project Leader
Amy is a third-year geography student from South! If she were a fruit, she says she would be a pineapple as they. are prickly on the outside and soft on the inside.
Josh Cash
Project Founder
Aanya Arora
Co-Project Leader
Aanya is a third-year Chemistry student from Cuths. She loves mangoes and thinks she would be a mango if she were a fruit as they thrive best in warm and are super versatile.
Lucy Harrison
Store Executive
Lucy is also a third-year Geography student. If she were a fruit, she would be grapes because she's often full of wine :)
Rohan Sekhri
Strategy and Growth Officer
Rohan is a third-year Chemistry student from Hild Bede. He would be an orange, as they love the sun and can be used in many recipes.
Linxuan Zhang
Store Executive
Lin is a third-year Geography student from Hild Bede. Rather than a fruit, she would be spring onion as it supports the flavours of the main dish!
James Hart Smith
Compliance Officer
James is a third-year law student. When asked what fruit he would be, he said he would 'turn into a potato. Specifically, a couch potato'.
Cyril Paul
Finance Officer
Cyril is a third-year Finance and Accounting student from Hild Bede (currently on placement!). He would be a kiwi, as it looks plain on the outside but colorful and vibrant within.
Alex Adams
Culinary Officer
Alex is a third-year Chemistry student from South. Like Amy, he would also be a Pineapple but he thinks this is because 'they're funky, fresh and look amazing in shades'.
Edward Barry
Outreach Officer
Edward is a third-year history student from Hatfield. He would be an apple - it's there come rain or shine!
Poppy Jopson
Sustainability Officer
Poppy is a second-year geography student. She says she would be a plum, as it can be both sweet and sour (with a low carbon footprint!).
Eliza Tu Thi
Publicity Officer
Eliza is a fourth-year Marketing and Management student from Josephine Butler. If she were a fruit, she would be Lychee as they're local to her hometown and full of flavour.
N/A
Education Officer
Join the team!
N/A
Roles coming soon!
N/A
Roles coming soon!
GET INVOLVED!
