Costa putting the fruit back into school breakfast

Hundreds of students are eating more fruit as a result of a new partnership between the Costa Berries group and Loaves and Fishes Tasmania.

Costa donates 112 punnets of mixed berries each week for use in the Loaves and Fishes school food program, either as fresh produce or in healthy fruit muffins made in the charity’s Devonport kitchen. The strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries are grown at various Costa farms in the North West.

Costa, who had donated fruit intermittently in the past, strengthened its commitment to Loaves and Fishes after the emergency food provider helped feed 136 Pacific Islander fruit pickers who were isolated as a result of a COVID outbreak.

Costa Berries Tasmania regional manager Cameron Folder said the company and workforce appreciated the three healthy meals and snacks provided by Loaves and Fishes.

“Costa was more than happy to reciprocate this support,” Cameron said.

Costa meeting half statewide school fruit demand

Loaves and Fishes Tasmania general manager Aaron Kropf said Costa was supplying half the fruit needed to serve around 60 schools statewide.

“We are extremely thankful to Costa for offering a consistent supply. It has been difficult to get large amounts of donated fruit, and it is expensive to buy in the quantities we need.

“We supply food for before school breakfast programs, for cooking and for snacks.”

Costa will continue the weekly supply of berries until the end of the harvesting season in May.

Berry good . . . Loaves and Fishes Tasmania general manager Aaron Kropf (left) and Costa Berries Tasmania regional manager Cameron Folder, with, from left, Oliver, Grace and Tom Udy.