Food waste duo in running to be green champs

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PICKLE FIRM NOMINATED FOR AWARD

Reporter THEY have just scooped top recognition after being hailed heroes of the region’s countryside.

But now our latest Chronicle Champions nominee will put us in a pickle as to who we choose as our winner.

The Pickle Palace is getting rave reviews over its inspiring work as it tackles the issues over food waste, while making pickles, chutneys and jams out of bruised fruit and vegetables that otherwise may have been thrown out.

The social enterprise is run by pals Hannah Reay, 41, and Michelle Wemyss, 38, who aim to join the community together while also wasting less food and educating others to do the same.

They are based at Greenside Community Centre in Gateshead, open three days a week, and invite people through their community kitchen doors for free food on Mondays between 11am and 2pm.

And, last month, they won the Best Rural Start-up Award in the North East Rural Awards, organised by The Journal and The Chronicle.

After being nominated for the Chronicle Champions Award in the Green Category, mum-of-two Hannah said: “I started out in my kitchen when I was a primary school teacher.

“We had a scheme whereby the kids were getting free fruit and some was going to waste. I thought, I’m not having that, and would make it into pickles and jams.

“It has gradually grown from there and Michelle joined me last year when we set up in the community centre. We get local produce, and even Tesco and Morrisons have come on-board.

“It is an honour to get this nomination and it lets us know the community recognise what we are doing.”

Hannah and Michelle, who has four children, have taken on a handful of volunteers to help them in the kitchen, and built up a working relationship with The Paddock farm shop in nearby High Spen.

Hannah, of Greenside, added: “The Paddock give us their organic fruit and veg and we make it into pickles and jams and they sell them from their shop, as well as us selling it from the community centre. We also make food, such as curries, with the fruit and veg they give us and we hold pop-up takeaways from The Paddock.”

Pickled Palace has been nominated by an impressed member of the community, who says: “The Pickle Palace try to use as much unused fruit and vegetables from locally sourced farms, allotments and supermarkets to up-cycle these into fabulous products while also using them to provide weekly soup kitchens and lunch clubs.”

There are opportunities for businesses to be involved by sponsorship or simply buying a table.

If interested, please ring Amy Evans on 0191 201 6092 or email amy.evans@trinitymirror.com