Fruit foragers’ green delivery
AFAMILY business that encourages sustainable eating has gone even greener - by introducing a zero emissions delivery system.
Fruits of the Forage, on Great King Street, Macclesfield was set up in 2014 and has since harvested more than 10 tonnes of fruit from wild sources such as abandoned orchards.
The business - run by brothers Fred, Bert and Archie Thorneycroft - also sources produce from wholesalers and farms with a surplus.
Now it has joined forces with fellow eco-company eLOV, who deliver ebikes, to use this mode of transport to take their products to customers.
Other deliveries are being made by ‘Zebby’ - a repurposed 1983 Smiths electric vehicle, leased in partnership with Smiths Dairies.
It adds to the scheme that was set up earlier in the pandemic to supply boxes of fruit, vegetables and wild plants to the community.
The brothers said: “Fruits of the Forage was founded with a mission to save fruit from going to waste.
“This mission has now expanded into reducing emissions on their delivery route.
“This means less air pollution and reduced congestion through local streets and lanes with the cargo bikes doing all the hard work.
“The vision for the future is for this unique combination to become more commonplace for deliveries within the local area and encourage other towns to try this delivery approach out.” Fruits of the Forage now delivers more than 70 per cent of its fruit and veg boxes with zero emissions.
The company has established a wild food map which covers large parts of the country, stretching from Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire and up through the north west.
But the brothers also say that Macclesfield is a particularly good area for foraging because of its access to countryside and the often wet climate.
Produce sourced is also used to make preserves and cordials with as little packaging as possible.