The Melbourne Food Rescue Network – a partnership of the City of Melbourne, Queen Victoria Market, STREAT and SecondBite, with support from the Victorian Government – has launched a new initiative to rescue thousands of kilograms of potential food waste at the city’s Queen Victoria Market.
Recent City of Melbourne data paints a confronting picture of rising food insecurity across the municipality, with almost half of residents reporting difficulty accessing enough food in 2025.
City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, Nick Reece, said no one in Melbourne should have to choose between paying a bill and feeding their family.
“This food rescue program is about getting good food onto the plates of people who need it most,” said Reece.
The Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere and the City of Melbourne’s biggest source of fresh produce. The market generates up to 800 tonnes of surplus food and organic waste each year – the rough equivalent weight of nearly 30 Melbourne trams.
Through the new initiative, surplus fresh produce will be sourced from some of the market’s biggest traders, including fresh fruit and vegetables, to be distributed each week to community food relief organisations across the city.
Beyond providing immediate relief, the program aims to build a healthier, more connected and more sustainable city by reducing food waste, supporting local communities and improving access to fresh, nutritious food.
By bringing together traders, community groups and government, the program will strengthen Melbourne’s food relief network and help more people get the support they need.
City of Melbourne councillor and community & city services portfolio head, Gladys Liu, said the partnership shows what can happen when government, community organisations and local businesses work together to support people doing it tough.
“We're continuing to invest in food relief, strengthening the community networks more people are relying on than ever before,” said Liu.
