About RefoodOne man's bruised apple is Danison Buan's opportunity.

To provide nutritious food to those who could really use it. To help people and businesses give back to their community.

Since entering the restaurant industry eight years ago, Buan has seen a lot of perfectly good food go to landfills. Fruit and vegetables discarded by grocery stores because they were bruised or misshapen and didn't make a pleasing display in the produce section. Other products pitched because they were nudging up against their Best Before date.

In the industry, that's called "excess food." To Buan, that's a waste.

So the owner of the Golphi's restaurant on 12th Street recently applied for, and was awarded, one of three ONE prizes offered by Donald's Market and the River Market to fund worthy community-building projects.

Buan will use the $2,000 prize money to launch Refood to steer excess food away from the disposal bins to local groups serving seniors and families in need, or inner city schools, via his own restaurant's commercial kitchen.

That's where Buan will collaborate with other local chefs to concoct simple recipes to turn bruised or ripening produce into safe, delicious fare like smoothies that can be frozen and easily stored.

High school students will be enlisted to help collect the raw ingredients from participating grocery stores and markets, and then distribute the resulting dishes to social service agencies.

Buan said recent changes to municipal bylaws to divert organic waste from landfills into composting programs is causing many grocery stores and markets to rethink how they deal with excess food.

"Grocery stores' compost bills are rising because of new laws," said Buan. "By reducing the amount of food that is collected for compost, it reduces their cost."

It also makes them more socially responsible.

"The food is going to a good use," said Buan.

To learn more about the Refood program, go to www.refood.ca

Sponsors

100 Braid Street Studio

Bosa Properties Foundation

Donald's Market

Douglas College

FYi Doctors

Hiway Refrigeration

New Westminster Parks, Culture & Recreation

New Westminster Rotary

River Market at New Westminster Quay

Save On Foods

SFU

Vancity