Cornish pasty makers have announced a new scheme to help tackle food poverty in Cornwall.
The Cornish Pasty Community Fund is a new initiative from the Cornish Pasty Association, which administers the PGI designation that protects the use of the Cornish pasty name. The group also helps anyone who would like to make, buy or sell Cornish pasties.
The Association is encouraging those making or selling genuine Cornish pasties to participate in the scheme by donating money from every Cornish pasty sold during Cornish Pasty Week (27 February-5 March), or a fixed lump sum of their choice. The suggested donation is 1p per Cornish pasty sold, and £14,000 has already been pledged.
All money raised will go towards helping the charity Devon & Cornwall Food Action expand its reach in Cornwall.
Devon & Cornwall Food Action receives 10 to 15 tonnes of donated products a week, which includes ambient, fresh, frozen and household products. The charity’s core objective is to provide affordable food for those experiencing food poverty in Cornwall and Devon.
“For generations the Cornish pasty has been an inherent part of our culture and heritage in this part of the world,” said Cornish Pasty Association chairman Jason Jobling. “With many people facing difficult challenges right now, this feels like an important moment to show how much the Cornish pasty community can do to support those in need.”
Devon and Cornwall Food Action is a registered charity that redistributes surplus food, and already works with some of the county’s pasty producers who donate excess or mis-shaped products.
“It is great to work with the Cornish Pasty Association during Cornish Pasty Week and we are enormously grateful for the funds already pledged,” said Devon and Cornwall Food Action chairman Alan Dunne. “With this money we will be able to reach even more families facing food poverty in Cornwall.”
Business that have already pledged to support the fund include Phat Pasty, West Cornwall Pasty Co, Warrens, Ginsters, The Cornwall Bakery, Cornish Premier Pasties, Prima Bakeries, Rowes, South Coast Baker, Berrymans and Proper Cornish.
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