Australia’s most ethical shopping experience rolls out across Melbourne.

Yesterday’s Food Justice Truck grand opening welcomed a world first initiative which empowers every shopper in Melbourne to assist in providing affordable, healthy groceries to people seeking asylum just by shopping at the Truck. Nowhere else in Australia can people seeking asylum receive a 75% discount on groceries, a subsidy made possible by general public shoppers who pay a competitive, market rate.

The award-winning social enterprise model by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) harnesses a true sense of community, and offers the most ethical shopping experience in Australia. Food Justice Truck pioneer explains,
“This is a triple-bottom line shopping experience. The full prices are competitive with major retailers, the social benefits to people seeking asylum are enormous, and the environmental credentials of the truck are extremely strong also.
It’s Australia’s most ethical grocery option. In addition to the benefits for asylum seekers the Truck itself is a diesel-electric hybrid, reclaimed timber is used for cladding, the whole process is almost zero waste and the fruit’n’veg is all from Victoria . . . low food miles.”

The ‘people’s truck’ is the result of a 900 strong crowdfunding campaign which raised $153,412, and runs on one paid staff and nearly 20 volunteers who take to the streets three days a week, to Thomastown Primary School on Tuesday, Wesley Church Melbourne in the CBD, and Footscray Primary School on Fridays.

Truck Manager, Russell Shields talks about how we can all play a role in assisting Melbourne’s 10,000 asylum seeker community
“You don’t need to ‘give’ us anything; just come and shop. It’s immensely satisfying to know that nearly all the produce comes direct from Victorian farmers, that the whole project is practically zero waste and that you’re making it possible for people who are fleeing violence and persecution to eat well.”

“The roll out continues. Within four months we will be trading at seven weekly locations across Victoria”.

The money raised by the Food Justice Truck crowdfunding campaign will enable Russell’s role to continue until December this year. ASRC Ambassadors, The Cat Empire are raising funds to for an additional yearly wage for Russell’s position. Aside from shopping at the Truck, you can help by purchasing a raffle ticket from http://bit.ly/1HHLKOq. There’s only 18 days left for this campaign, which has already raised $11,150.

For more information about the Food Justice Truck go to www.asrc.org.au/foodjustice, email iva.t@asrc.org.au or call 03 9274 9847.

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