Crookwell potato growers donate to Foodbank to nourish Australians

Crookwell and Robertson were flagged by the charity, Foodbank, to top up its falling potato supply.

Foodbank uses surplus food from larger enterprise manufacturers, producers, and retailers.

"We look at staple things people need: beans, carrots, peas, and potatoes, all your fruit and vegetables," Foodbank's food supply developer Ian Cox said.

"It's caused by a lack of potatoes for the people in need and we needed to source another area."

The association of potato growers, including president Garry Kadwell, will provide around six to eight tonne at a time on an ad-hoc basis.

"It will be a variety that may be over supplied or we'll donate the potatoes," Mr Kadwell said.

Every month, Foodbank NSW & ACT, along with 650 registered charities, provide food for 180,000 people across the state and Canberra region.

"We're like the pantry for all the charities," Mr Cox said.

Australia-wide the charity provides 710,000 meals each month.

There are more than four million people living in Australia who experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months, according to Foodbank.

"40 per cent [of our food] goes to country areas because they are in more need than city folk," Mr Cox said.

"The majority are people with families not being able to meet their bills."

Foodbank works with the entire food and grocery supply chain, rescuing 'perfectly imperfect' fresh fruit and vegetables; sourcing, and manufacturing, the everyday essentials.

In last week's state budget, the government committed to support Foodbank NSW and ACT.

The roll out of breakfast meals will provide students at 500 schools with healthy meals. Those schools in lower socio economic areas would be prioritised.

The charity is also hoping to sources apples from Batlow, and uses leftover produce from suppliers at the Sydney Markets.

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