Help Us Grow OxPlenty: Rescue Fresh Food, Nourish Our Community

We’re thrilled to introduce OxPlenty, a brand-new community-powered initiative from Good Food Oxfordshire, in partnership with Cherwell Collective and Oxford Food Hub. Together, we’re tackling one of the UK’s most overlooked food system problems – surplus produce left to rot on local farms – and turning it into a solution that feeds people, not landfill.

Why OxPlenty?

Each year, 3.3 million tonnes of food go to waste on UK farms. That’s enough to fill nearly 200,000 trucks – while over 9 million people in the UK experience food insecurity. Much of this food is lost for simple reasons: it’s the wrong shape, there’s too much of it, or orders are cancelled last-minute. Perfectly edible, nutritious food never makes it off the field.

And the impact isn’t just social – it’s environmental too. Food waste is responsible for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK alone, 70% of freshwater used on farms goes towards food that’s never eaten.

What We're Doing

OxPlenty works directly with Oxfordshire’s brilliant farmers to identify and rescue fresh produce before it’s wasted. We then process this surplus – jarring, freezing, drying – to extend shelf life, and distribute it through our trusted network of local food access programmes.

This is about more than saving food – it’s about:

• Reducing carbon emissions

• Supporting local growers

• Feeding communities in need

• Creating a circular, just food system

Why It Matters

Every pumpkin, apple or leek represents someone’s labour, litres of water, and a piece of fertile land. Wasting it is not just inefficient – it’s unjust.

By redirecting this surplus to where it’s needed most, we’re closing the loop between farm and fork, and making Oxfordshire’s food system stronger, fairer and more sustainable.

You Can Help!

We’re just getting started – OxPlenty launched on 16 June 2025 – and we need your help to grow. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Volunteer: Join our harvest teams, help process rescued produce, or assist with deliveries.

• Farm with Us: Got surplus crops? We’ll help you get them to good homes.

• Donate: Every gift supports our work rescuing food, feeding people and cutting waste.

• Spread the Word: Share our mission using #OxPlenty and #ZeroWasteOx on social media.

Help Us Turn Surplus into Strength

By donating to OxPlenty today, you're investing in a food system that works for people and the planet. Whether you give £5 or £500, you’re helping feed families, support farmers and protect the environment.

Together, we can grow something truly special.

Donate now to support OxPlenty.