Vier Millionen Kilo Kartoffeln suchen ein neues Zuhause
www.morgenpost.de
Zum 100. Mal jährt sich die Internationale Grüne Woche. Zu diesem Anlass verschenken Berliner Morgenpost und Ecosia tonnenweise Kartoffeln. So können Sie mitmachen.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/24096590

Vier Millionen Kilo Kartoffeln suchen ein Zuhause

Vier Millionen Kilo Kartoffeln zu verschenken

"Der Plan ist simpel: Ecosia finanziert den Transport von Sachsen nach #Berlin. Die Berliner Morgenpost hilft, die kostenlose Verteilung zu organisieren.

Wir suchen dafür Verteilstellen in der ganzen Stadt: Kirchengemeinden, Schulen, Sportvereine, Nachbarschaftsinitiativen, soziale Einrichtungen oder Privatleute. Jede Abnahmestelle erhält eine Tonne der Kartoffeln, kostenlos, zum Verteilen an alle, die sie gebrauchen können (Sorte Agria, festkochend)."

    • phneutral@feddit.orgOP
      1·
      2 days ago

      They have a website (4000 tons) with regular updates (in German) and a map.

      Some rough automated translations:

      1. January 2026

      Thank you!!

      The first day is over. In the morning 22 tons were dumped at the Berliner Tafel, at the same time the first tour was supplied with potatoes in half (a total of 11 stations).

      There is a lot to tell: press coverage, lots of great pictures, logistics details, support offered. Thank you to everyone who helps.

      But the most important thing: the delivery of the many, many places next week seems organized. At the bottom of the map you will find all the places that will have potatoes since this afternoon (we have many more requests, but the financial support is still missing!).

      1. January 2026

      Second week

      Next week, 132 tons will be distributed (after 42 tons in the first week). Then, however, it gets cold - which is not good for the potatoes - and we can’t finance more. Delivery will be made in several days, the details can be found at the bottom of the card.

      We also collect recipes for potatoes in Berlin and Leipzig, which we then want to put online. In addition, we discuss how the unique action can perhaps be continued, in the interests of all farmers in the region. We will keep you up to date here.

      1. January 2026

      […]

      Is it going any further? We definitely have a sponsor for another truck (22 tons!). We want to extend it as soon as it has become a few degrees warmer. And for the farmers in the region, we are currently trying to get our technology to the start, so that something of our action remains.

  • phneutral@feddit.orgOP
    59·
    14 days ago

    Automatic translation:

    Try to imagine a quantity of four million kilograms of potatoes. Four million kilograms - that’s 4000 tons, the weight of 800 adult elephants, stacked as high as the Berlin TV Tower. It’s a lot that could fill hundreds of thousands of people.

    These potatoes are stored in the halls of a farm south of Leipzig, neatly sorted, cool and dry, best food quality. And they have a problem: no one wants them.

    The story of these potatoes is a story about the absurdities of our food system. A trader had ordered the harvest, but when the potatoes were harvested and stored, it was clear: the supply on the market is greater than the demand. The market price had fallen, the offer too big. What is no longer profitable for trade becomes a burden for the producer. Financially, everything was settled, but the potatoes remained.

    Shortly before Christmas, I received an email from Ecosia, a search engine we had just reported on. Ecosia is the Berlin company that plants trees with its advertising revenue – over 200 million worldwide. Chief Financial Officer Wolfgang Oels wrote that there is contact with a farm south of Leipzig that has to destroy 4000 tons of potatoes. “Do we, as Berliner Morgenpost and Ecosia, want to make this a joint action?”

    We can. We want. And we need your help.

    The largest potato rescue in the city

    The plan is simple: Ecosia finances the transport from Saxony to Berlin. The Berliner Morgenpost helps to organize the free distribution.

    We are looking for distribution points throughout the city: parishes, schools, sports clubs, neighborhood initiatives, social institutions or private individuals. Each collection point receives one ton of potatoes, free of charge, to distribute to all who can use them (Agria variety, firm cooking!). They can help distribute - and show together with us what is possible if we treat food for what they are: valuable.

  • lurch (he/him)@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    15·
    14 days ago

    i can’t believe they were unable to find a regular buyer. potatos don’t spoil fast and are so good.

    i had potato dishes/snacks three times this week alone and look forward to have some on the weekend as well.

  • julianwgs@discuss.tchncs.de
    4·
    13 days ago

    I think this is the right thing to do, but this will probably also lead to supermarkets needing to dispose some of their potatoes, because less people buy them and an above average of the free potatoes will probably go bad, because people will get more than they need. So I don‘t think every handed out free potato is a saved potato. Still it is the best option.

    There is not a lot you can do if you too much of something at that scale which doesn‘t last. Especially food where the consumption is pretty stable.

    • amino@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      8·
      13 days ago

      the obvious solution is for supermarkets to get punished for throwing away fresh produce while people are starving

      • julianwgs@discuss.tchncs.de
        2·
        12 days ago

        France has such a law and I am in favor of it.

        However that would probably not solve the problem at hand. Food production is a lengthy process (month to years) with high capacity utilization and once production has started it cannot be stopped. Therefore you cannot control for sudden fluctuation in supply and demand. The crop yield for potatoes this year was way better than expected leading to surplus in supply.

        I am not aware of anyone starving in Germany and shipping those potatoes to countries where that happens would probably not feasible (in other words with the same money you could probably get better help elsewhere).

        • amino@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          7·
          12 days ago

          I am not aware of anyone starving in Germany

          tell me you are rich and sheltered without telling me you are rich and sheltered

    • phneutral@feddit.orgOP
      7·
      13 days ago

      As far as I understand some NGOs (notably the Berlin Tafel, which provides food for people in need) are taking a portion of the potatoes. But their capacities are limited as well.