With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, mooncakes remain the highlight of the celebratory table. However, year after year, the problems of "buying too much" and "not being able to finish it" linger, making mooncakes a significant cause of waste. This year, the Food Commons Foundation, in collaboration with Food Grace, will continue to encourage waste reduction at the source and food conservation as a "Green Partner" during the festival!

May you buy what you need, eat what you desire, and experience the joy and warmth of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"Are even such perfectly good fruits and vegetables being thrown away?"

A group of volunteers went to a wet market food recovery site in August to have a firsthand look at the "Food Commons Foundationd" effort. As they looked at the boxes filled with extra produce, they thought about how food is frequently thrown away carelessly. Beyond the act of sharing food, they realized that protecting the environment is only one aspect of cherishing resources; seeing elderly neighbors come to the center in the evening to pick up the extra vegetables made it clear that this wet market recovery program is also a continuous community endeavor to reduce poverty.

The event aims to raise public awareness regarding food waste and recovery, allowing participants to experience the recovery process firsthand. It demonstrates how "perfectly presentable" produce can help put food on the tables of grassroots families, thereby deepening understanding of the culture of cherishing food and the importance of community-based poverty relief.

Join now to get a personal look at the "rescuing food to help others" mentality!

The third solar term of autumn, "White Dew" (Bailu), has quietly arrived today. As they say, "From White Dew to the Autumn Equinox, the nites grow steadily cooler"; summer heat persists during the day, but a chill descends in the mornings and evenings. During this time, wellness activities should concentrate on "nourishing the lungs." In order to prepare the body for late autumn, the diet should emphasize foods that nourish *yin* and moisten dryness because autumn dryness can deplete bodily fluids and cause respiratory or throat discomfort.

We suggest one fruit and three seasonal vegetables for this solar term, all of which are inexpensive and fresh:

Cherry Radish, Hairy Gourd,  Calabash Gourd, Starfruit

In Hong Kong, July was the hottest month of the year, with constant heat. Even though the extreme heat made it difficult to engage in outdoor activities, our volunteers persisted in their work, gradually expanding food rescue operations over many districts.

We successfully rescued over 1.4 tons of food this month, including approximately 9,000 loaves of bread, over 2,700 pieces of fruit, canned products, and snacks, thanks to the mobilization of 435 volunteers. This abundant supply provided essential food support to over 7,500 residents throughout Hong Kong. Thanks to the dedication of every volunteer who persevered in their duties during the sweltering heat, this heartfelt effort was able to reach its intended recipients.

We kindly ask that you sign up as a volunteer to assist us in making sure that food that has been salvaged gets to the people who need it!

To register as a volunteer, please scan the QR code or click the link:

https://www.foodcommons.hk/tc/volunteers

The End of Heat solar term arrives – the character "End" signifies cessation – marking the formal farewell to the sweltering peak of summer.

However, during this period, the weather is characterised by "warm dryness." The temperature gap between morning and evening begins to widen, while lingering summer dampness remains, often leading to a sense of fatigue known as "autumn lassitude." Diet should focus on sweet and neutral-flavoured foods, with an emphasis on nourishing yin and moistening dryness, helping the body transition smoothly from summer to autumn.

For this solar term, we recommend the following four seasonal vegetables and one fruit – fresh, affordable, and delicious: Okra, Water Spinach ,Luffa,Dragon Fruit

Government can build a win-win food rescue mechanism

SCMP Hong Kong society Opinion / Letters

Letters Published: 10 Aug 2026

Hong Kong discards about 3,000 tonnes of food waste every day – over one million tonnes annually – much of it still edible. At the same time, grass-roots families and elderly citizens struggle with nutrition. The Food Commons Foundation urges the government, in the 2026 policy address, to establish a food rescue mechanism.

Specifically, we propose a 150 per cent green tax deduction under the Inland Revenue Ordinance to encourage enterprises to directly fund food rescue charities.

Second, government tenders should be adjusted so surplus food is intercepted before it can be disposed of, and part of waste budgets can be reallocated for frontline poverty alleviation.

Third, idle public market stalls and space should be provided at symbolic rent for food recovery groups, and there should be a “Good Samaritan” food donation clause to remove legal concerns.

Our projects have cumulatively recovered over 11,467 tonnes of edible food since 2009, benefiting 10.23 million people. Analysis shows that every HK$1 invested in food recovery yields HK$6.50 in social value. This reduces landfill waste, lowers healthcare costs, helps businesses meet ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals and improves nutrition for vulnerable communities.

We envision a four-way win-win framework involving government, businesses, charities and grass-roots citizens.

As we enter early autumn, the days remain hot, yet a chill is beginning to set in during the mornings and evenings. This fluctuating weather can easily affect both your appetite and energy levels! For this seminar, we have once again invited nutritionist Sharon Chan to share tips on mindful eating tailored to early autumn. She will teach you how to use seasonal ingredients to create delicious, nourishing, and appetizing dishes to welcome the change of season.

Date:12 September,2026 (Saturday)

Time: 11:30-12:30a.m.

Venue: Lek Yuen Community Hall, Shatin

The lecture is completely free! All registered attendees will receive a free food gift bag! Spaces are limited, so remember to register in advance!

Today marks the Start of Autumn, officially ushering in the season, though the weather remains hot. Brief spells of high heat may still occur unexpectedly during this period. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body's yang energy shifts from outward dispersion to inward conservation at this time. Consequently, the focus of wellness shifts from "clearing heat and relieving summer heat" to moistening dryness, nourishing the lungs, and strengthening the spleen and qi. A diet that is gentle and nourishing is recommended to prepare the body for the autumn and winter months ahead.

Every day, vast quantities of safe food are sent to landfills; meanwhile, countless grassroots elderly in the community lack access to fresh, nutritious food.

The Food Commons Foundation submitted its recommendations for the 2026 Policy Address today, proposing a new mechanism featuring "Business _NGO Direct Linkage with Tax Incentives" to achieve targeted poverty alleviation.

3 Major Policy Recommendations:

1. 150% Green Tax Deduction 

2. Government Tender shifting

3. Space Activation Revitalization & Liability 

June brought the traditional Dragon Boat Festival. Beyond our regular food rescue operations, we specifically collected and distributed 350 boxes of festive *zongzi* (sticky rice dumplings), sharing holiday flavors and care with our neighbors.

Our total rescue volume remained high this month, reaching 1,834.85 kg and benefiting over 8,000 people. From bread and hot meals to an abundance of fruit, canned goods, and seasonal treats, this tangible support was made possible entirely through the hard work and dedication of our volunteers.

We invite you to sign up as a volunteer and help us ensure that rescued food reaches those in need!

To sign up as a volunteer, please scan the QR code or click the link:https://www.foodcommons.hk/en/volunteers