Funky Food delivers the tasty crunch, not the cost-of-living crunch – and supports farmers
With interest another rate rise predicted this week, and Australian households already feeling the cost-of-living pinch, Funky Foods' rescued, in-season fruit and vegetables offer a smarter solution for school lunches and snacks. Boxes are often up to 30% cheaper than supermarkets, packed with fresh produce that's in season, nutritious and anything but dull.
Salisbury mum of three (Cydi 12 and in year 7, Clay 11 and in year 6 and Kip 6 and in year 2), Erin Gerrard said back to school is always hectic, and Funky Food has made it so much easier.
"Having a box of fresh produce delivered straight to the door means one less trip to the supermarket and one less thing to think about. Knowing I'll get a delivery each week makes routines simpler. I can build meals and lunches around what arrives instead of scrambling last minute," she said.
"I love knowing that Funky Food rescues produce that would otherwise go to waste just because it doesn't look 'perfect'. It feels good to be part of a solution rather than contributing to the problem."
"My kids actually enjoy opening the box and seeing what's inside. It sparks conversations about where food comes from and why it's important not to waste it. They're learning that food doesn't have to look perfect to be good, and that small choices can make a big difference.
Funky Food founder, Brisbane's Kamran Kasaei-Nejad says back-to-school is the perfect time to rethink how families shop for food.
"The average household wastes around 4kg of food every week, costing roughly $3,000 a year," he said. "By eating in-season fruit and veg, and choosing rescued produce, families can save money, reduce waste and still feed their kids really well."
Funky Foods rescues cosmetically imperfect fruit and vegetables that supermarkets reject; produce that's just as fresh and nutritious, but often overlooked, and delivers direct to doors across South east Queensland, Greater Sydney and Greater Melbourne.
Here's some Funky Food easy, healthy lunchbox ideas:
- Apple & pear slices with lemon to stop browning (add a little yoghurt dip if you're feeling fancy)
- Carrot, cucumber and celery sticks with hummus or tzatziki
- Corn and zucchini fritters — batch-cook and freeze for grab-and-go lunches
- Roasted sweet potato cubes with olive oil (great hot or cold)
- Plum or banana smoothies blended with yoghurt for a sweet afternoon snack
- Pumpkin and cheese mini muffins — perfect for lunchboxes and after-school hunger
Here's what's in season at Funky Food –
- Apple (Red) - these apples might not be runway-ready, but they crunch like champions.
- Banana (Green) - still a bit green behind the peel? Perfect. These bananas are built to last, not bruise.
- Carrot - Crooked, chunky or cheeky, carrots don't need straight lines to be seriously good.
- Celery - still snaps like a dream.
- Corn - a little wild, a little wonky, corn that proves sweetness isn't skin-deep.
- Cucumber (Conventional) – may be bent but brilliant. This cucumber zigged when others zagged.
- Garlic – a little rough on the outside, but rich on the inside.
- Gem Lettuce - small and slightly scruffy but with big flavour energy.
- Lemons & limes - a bit blotchy, but still boldly zesty.
- Lettuce (Seasonal) - leafy, lovely and living its best imperfect life.
- Mushroom – may not be picture-perfect, but still magic in the pan.
- Onion (Brown) – with layers for days they look tough but taste tender.
- Pear - a little lopsided, and fully delicious; pears that refuse to conform.
- Plum - blushed, bruised, and beautifully sweet.
- Potato (Brush) - porky, proud and packed with potential.
- Pumpkin - big, bumpy and bursting with goodness.
- Shallot - slim, scrappy and still sensational.
- Sweet Potato - curvy, cuddly and carb-perfect.
- Tomato - a touch tetchy, slightly squishy, still saucy where it counts.
- Zucchini - short, stout or super-long, zucchinis that refuse to fit the mould.
ABOUT Funky Food
Funky Foods delivers rescued fruit and vegetables to households across South-East Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne, with boxes often up to 30% cheaper than major supermarkets. Last year alone Australians ordered 185,000 boxes from Funky Food, which saved 2,400 tonnes of produce; and by preventing food waste, skipping supermarket trips and smart delivery routes, saved 2.4 million kg of CO2.
Funky Food isn't just another grocery service, it's a food-rescue business - tackling food waste, reducing emissions, and working with real farmers. Consumers can pick their own produce or go for surprise boxes, and they can tailor their subscription because it's not a one-size-fits-all. Their pricing model is transparent: they charge a fixed cost for delivery + business costs, then pass on the wholesale price + a 20% "Funky" margin.
THE FACTS: Food Waste in Australia
End Food Waste Australia is leading the way in improving the sustainability of the Australian food system through research and evidence-based solutions:
- In Australia, around 7.7 million meals are discarded daily, with households contributing 32% of that waste, costing the economy an estimated $36.6 billion annually.
- The average household wastes 4kg of food each week, amounting to roughly $3,000 per year.
- "Reducing food waste isn't just an environmental or economic issue — it's a social imperative. If Australia successfully halves food waste by 2030 — an ambitious goal — FIAL estimates this could unlock $54 billion in benefits, significantly reduce emissions, and ensure more food reaches those who need it most."
Australian National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study by Food Innovation Australia (FIAL):
- Australia wastes 7.6 million tonnes of food annually; that's enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground 10 times over.
- 70% of this waste could have been avoided, representing billions of lost meals and an economic impact of $36.6 billion.
- Household waste alone costs Australians $19.3 billion per year.
- Shoppers reported saving around $63 on a produce haul, by ordering a box of "misshapen" produce.
