THE Crediton Community Larder was delighted to receive a cheque for £150 from the Crediton Co-op store to enable it to shortly open a second Community Larder outside the new café “On the Green” at St Lawrence Green, Crediton.

Ian White, incoming manager of Crediton Co-op said: “This is a community donation to help the community and it’s in keeping with our ethos of sustainability and access to food.”

The Community Food Larder is a partnership between Crediton Library and Sustainable Crediton and offers supplies of shop end-of-date, surplus vegetables, fruit and baked goods, which would otherwise go to waste.

The supplies are collected from several local retailers, so there is a range of food on offer which could be different each day.

People with surplus fruit and vegetables from their gardens or allotments can also contribute.

Produce remains available during library opening hours, whilst in good condition and is free to everyone.

Alison Orchard of Sustainable Crediton, who co-ordinated the new café part of the project with Crediton Co-op said: “I think it’s fair to say that the food larder has taken off in a way none of us could have envisaged!

“We are regularly collecting from Tesco (Wellparks and Express), Stevie Bs Bakery, The Green House, Four Seasons and The Plant Shed in Copplestone.

“It is stunning how much food – which would otherwise either go for animal feed or be land-filled – is being donated; hauls of 42 punnets of grapes, 60 heads of celery and a box of fresh turmeric root have been memorable!

“The most gratifying thing is that it is all being taken, some recipients have expressed great gratitude and many interesting conversations about wasteful lifestyles have ensued.

“Collections from the Co-op in the High Street will be starting soon.

“The Co-op is keen to support us because our community venture with benefits to nutrition fits into their ethos.

Alison added: “A group of us will be visiting the Community Larder in Tiverton Library to see how their fridge provision works and we shall be staying for lunch at the ReRooted café (run by Sustainable Tiverton) in St George’s Hall to sample their meals cooked from donated waste food… so we are exploring lots of ideas about ways to take our success forward.

“We are still expanding so any extra volunteer help would be most welcome. It’s a really worthwhile thing to do.”

Anyone wishing to become a volunteer should contact Alison on 07734 154607.

Nora Parminter