Share food – don’t waste it! Pioneering app launches in York with a family picnic

Huge amounts of perfectly good food are chucked away every day, in our city and around the world.

It’s a scandal. But what can we do about it?

The inventors of a clever new smartphone app have the answer: don’t bin it, share it.

Olio is a free app designed to connects neighbours with each other and with local independent shops so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away.

And it launches in York this weekend with a Museum Gardens family picnic that everyone can attend.

North Yorkshire link

The inspiration for the app came from the early experiences of co-founders Tessa Cook and Saasha Celestial-One.

Cook grew up on a dairy farm in North Yorkshire, effectively seeing a third of her family’s hard work go to waste.

By contrast Celestial-One is the daughter of Iowa hippies and equally passionate about the issue.

“Having grown up in Yorkshire, it feels great to be bringing Olio home,” said Tessa.

Cut your bills

York Central MP Rachael Maskell is right behind the idea.

“Not only is it good news for local families who want to cut their bills but Olio also boosts local shops and markets who can now cut the amount of food they throw away at the push of a button.”

York resident and Olio convert Laura Meek agrees. “I hate throwing away food and enjoy doing things that promote a sense of community – Olio achieves both.”

The new food sharing service complements initiatives in the city to reduce food waste, including Your Cafe, which uses surplus food to create a community meal.

The app is free. Tessa and Saasha built it using their own personal savings.

In 2015 they secured funding from a private investor “that shares their mission of unlocking the value of food that is wasted in the home and local community” said a spokeswoman.