We’re happy to welcome Perfectly Imperfect to the Ōwairaka Community Hub, located at 93 Richardson Road, Ōwairaka. Pop in and check out all the fresh produce they have on offer Wednesday to Friday between 2:30pm and 5:30pm. Perfectly Imperfect, source fresh fruit and vegetables, too big, too small or not ‘perfect’ enough for supermarket shelves and box them up for local whānau to enjoy for little or no cost. This exciting, sustainable food initiative supports community wellbeing and helps reduce unnecessary waste.
The kaupapa behind Perfectly Imperfect is simple, to build a community where everyone can enjoy and share food with dignity. Wendy, from Perfectly Imperfect, says it best, “our online community shop is New Zealand's first 'pay what you can' community store with free, open membership. Members can purchase fresh produce from our online store for home delivery, or pick it up from the Ōwairaka Community Hub. And if people wish to just pop into the Hub during our opening hours and select a few things, we have rescue items and our signature Gleaning Mystery Box available all the time.” 
Pictured: Wendy from Perfectly Imperfect
Mystery Boxes of fresh rescued produce are available for as little as $5. Along with fresh fruit and veggie boxes, Perfectly Imperfect stock a range of seasonal, single items like oranges, avocados, beetroot and more, on a ‘pay what you can’ basis. Their opening hours have been selected to tie in with school pick up times, so families can easily drop in, and grab a few things on their way home.
Perfectly Imperfect will also partner up with Everybody Eats to offer delicious, ready made frozen meals, healthy sauces and jams all lovingly crafted from their ‘rescued’, but perfectly fresh and tasty fruit and veggies. Everybody Eats is a not-for-profit organisation that takes food that would otherwise go to waste, and turns it into restaurant quality meals. Examples of the kinds of family meals on offer include lasagna, hearty pasta dishes made from seasonal rescued produce, and yummy fruit based desserts.
To top it all off, Perfectly Imperfect are talking to Kitchen Project and the Iti Rearea Collective about inviting their members to come along to the Ōwairaka Community Hub, share recipes and cook food in the Community Container kitchen with their amazing natural produce.
Kitchen Project is an Auckland Council initiative that aims to nurture Auckland's food scene with a focus on culture, healthy food and sustainable business practices. The Iti Rearea Collective supports refugees and immigrants in the Auckland region, with a particular focus on helping women start their own food businesses using their cooking skills, and traditional recipes. Stay tuned for more info and details.
The team from Perfectly Imperfect are keen to hear from anyone interested in volunteering at the Ōwairaka Community Hub store. If you’d like to help, please email Wendy Zhou at wendy@perfectlyimperfect.org.nz.
Finally, to find out more about Imperfectly Perfect, become a member, and book your fresh produce orders in advance visit https://www.perfectlyimperfect.org.nz/
