Fresh produce table introduced at Toi Ohomai

Toi Ohomai social work lecturers Jan Hastie (front) Vincent Wijeysingha (left) and Tuihana Marsh. Photo/Ben Fraser

An anonymous produce table has been set up at a local tertiary institute to encourage students to eat healthy, while also helping out those struggling to make ends meet.

Social work lecturers and faculty administration staff at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology set up the table in the foyer of their building with the hope they would not only get rid of excess produce from their gardens, but also help out students struggling financially.

Faculty administration manager Jonathon Hagger said the team had "kicked the idea around" before deciding to act.

"We're going to play it by ear, starting out with a table once a fortnight and seeing how it goes. It will also depend on how much excess produce we have.

"It's not about giving a hand out to these students which is why we wanted to educate our students around healthy eating as well.

"Obviously it's not a table big enough to feed the whole campus, but it is a start and something other faculties around the campus could consider."

Mr Hagger said he had seen first hand the financial struggles of some students.

"Some students are shy about asking for help and end up in tight spots, eating bad food - or not eating at all - because they are ashamed or afraid to get some extra help.

"By having the table the students can grab what they need without having to confront someone."

Social work lecturer Jan Hastie said the idea of the table came up when they were discussing chillies.

"During growing season a lot of us have plants going to seed because we can't eat them fast enough - why not offer it. There are three of us at home and six of our spinach plants went to seed.

"A lot of people have fruit trees as well so this was an easy way to share that excess produce and changing the attitude around waste.

"We are approaching this organically, getting things cooked or frozen - this is a very organic, simple idea."