The Community Grocer, A Social Enterprise Tackling Food Insecurity With Tess Gardiner

FEATURING

Tess Gardiner

INTRODUCTION

Let me introduce you to our guest, Tess Gardiner.

The Community Grocer (TCG), founded by current CEO, Russell Shields, is a social enterprise with a mission to provide weekly affordable fresh food markets in areas where access to such produce is limited. Of equal importance is the creation of healthy connected communities around those markets. Today, I speak with General Manager, Tess Gardiner about where and how the markets operate and how TCG had to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to provide fresh produce at a time when it was needed more than ever.

You may be surprised to learn about the food insecurity statistics in Australia… and the figures mentioned are based on pre-COVID estimates! Tess and I discuss how justice, equity and dignity are fundamental drivers for TCG model and some of the amazing results they have seen. The problem of food insecurity is a grave one but this is an uplifting episode because TCG brings together a group of people with passion and commitment who are making a tangible difference in the communities they serve.

LINKS TO THE COMMUNITY GROCER

I hope that you enjoy this episode as much as I did making it, and don’t be shy, let me know what you think!

Follow Tess Gardiner online

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