The “intercepted ingredients” used by the Real Junk Food Project were destined for the trash bin. Instead, they will be available at their food markets and cafés where customers “pay what they feel.”
Where are we going? To an Adam Smith look at food productivity.
The Real Junk Food Project
Created in 2013, the Real Junk Food Project opened its first market in the UK near Leeds.
For those of us who need a bit of geography, the market is a 3-hour or so drive from London:
In their food markets, the Real Junk Food Project depends on donated labor time and inventory. Volunteers stock shelves, weigh food, drive. They’ve done electrical wiring and washed windows.
Their café initiative is also based on intercepted food, volunteer labor and pay what you feel. Similar to the market stores, the cafés rescue what would have been discarded through contributions. Donors include food photographers, restaurants and food banks.
The founder of the project, Adam Smith (yes, that’s his name) says their purpose is to diminish food waste, feed people, and do a better job than capitalism. Thinking of Smith’s 18th century namesake, I have a response.
Our Bottom Line: Agricultural Productivity
Having said that charity “is an ornament that embellishes” society, the 18th century Adam Smith would have explained the monumental impact of the market on U.S. agriculture.
Although the number of farms and farmers are down, production has skyrocketed. The reason? Our land, labor and capital recipes have changed. Using less land and better technology has meant we needed less input per unit of output:
Meanwhile, farm population is down:
And farm size is up:
So yes, the Real Junk Food Project can feed people and encourage businesses to minimize waste. However, the real source of more food is the market system.
My sources and more: Getting some media hype, the Real Junk Food Project is described by the Independent and in this Guardian article while other sites noted their expansion to the U.S. and beyond. Also though, let’s remember what Adam Smith said about charity and the impact of the market on agricultural productivity.
