The City of London Corporation has today agreed an innovative partnership between New Spitalfields Market and food charity City Harvest, in a move set to provide thousands of meals for those affected by food poverty, cut waste disposal costs for tenants and provide considerable environmental benefits.

City Harvest will take on a space at the market to collect end-of-life produce from tenants and redistribute it to those in need in East London.

The announcement represents a further development in City Harvest’s partnership with the Market. The charity has been taking produce out of the market twice a week since before Christmas, which has already resulted in more than 10 tonnes of produce being reused.

The four tonnes of produce repurposed in March 2019 alone resulted in a total of 10,000 meals for those in need.

They will be allowed to dispose of end-of-life products for free, and this will go a long way to cutting food waste levels further at the Market.

City Harvest’s mission is to take end-of-life or donated food and distribute it those in need, either directly or through its 300 partner organisations across the capital.

James Tumbridge, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Markets Committee, said:

“I am very pleased that we have agreed to strengthen the partnership between City Harvest and New Spitalfields Market. Feeding London, and remembering many Londoners need help is core to our mission: to provide excellent markets and support our communities.

“Together, we have been able to save several tonnes of food waste. We are also providing thousands of meals for those who need them while saving disposal costs for our tenants and helping the environment.

“With City Harvest on site, this is an exciting new step as we look to reach the full potential of our collaboration. I look forward to working ever more closely with City Harvest over the coming months.”

Nikki Tadema, Chief Operating Officer, City Harvest, said:

“The City Harvest Team are ecstatic to be opening a satellite site at New Spitalfields Market in partnership with the City of London Corporation.

“This will allow City Harvest to receive surplus food donations directly from the market and have a permanent home in East London to serve the surrounding community. This great opportunity will benefit not only our charity partners but also the traders of Spitalfields to reduce good quality surplus going to waste.”

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk