With the arrival of End of Heat, autumn begins to take hold. The exhilarating End of Heat solar term marks the official transition from summer heat to autumn's cooler days. After the end of heat, mornings and evenings begin to cool slightly, but midday heat persists, and the air still carries the heavy, damp feeling of late summer.

Food that is approaching its expiration date is still safe to eat and has become a popular money-saving choice for many astute shoppers in recent years.  With increased environmental consciousness, dedicated stores have emerged to sell these things, and large supermarkets are holding clearance sales to reduce waste.  By paying close attention to labels, expiration dates, and packaging, you may shop with confidence while also supporting sustainable living practices.

Hong Kong experienced extreme weather in July, including torrential rain and typhoons. However, the volunteers from the Food Commons Foundation remained committed to their duties, ensuring safety while providing services. Thank you for your perseverance and dedication!

We need volunteers in several places to assist with food distribution to individuals in need.  Would you be willing to devote a little time to saving food and assisting others?  We warmly invite you to sign up as a volunteer.  Our efforts can be sustained only if everyone contributes.

Tomorrow marks the thirteenth of the twenty-four solar terms, the Beginning of Autumn, and the first of autumn. As the proverb goes, "Beginning of autumn mornings are chilly, evenings scorching hot." This is the last of the three hottest days of summer, when the heat has not yet dissipated and autumn dryness is gradually setting in. A morning walk is recommended to help dissipate a little sweat and dissipate dampness.

Build wholesome communities, cooperate across departments, and incorporate resources for food and kitchen waste.

As Hong Kong enters a new phase of sustainable development with an ageing society, food resource management transcends environmental protection and directly impacts public health, grassroots support, and the capacity of the healthcare system. The large amounts of nutritious food and kitchen waste that go unused daily reflect a need for improvement in existing systems and infrastructure.

The Food Commons Foundation recommends that the government prioritise "integrated resource management of food surplus and food waste," promote cross-departmental collaboration, strengthen community engagement, and enhance the legal framework. Integrating food surplus distribution and food waste recycling mechanisms will improve grassroots diets, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, alleviate pressure on public healthcare, accelerate energy recycling, reduce landfill waste, and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality. This will help build a sustainable city that values food, is healthy, and is inclusive.

Food recycling is an urban infrastructure project, not a charitable endeavour.

In June, the Food Commons Foundation held a food cherish talk at Baptist Lui Ming Choi Primary School. Students focused on understanding the problem and impact of food waste and actively participated in Q&A sessions. At the end of the talk, students shared many ways to practice food cherish behaviour (such as planning menus and making good use of leftovers). We believe they all benefited greatly from the talk.