Turning Surplus Food into Hope

When the market closes and the crowds disappear, another act of kindness is just beginning. Every day,
Yeh Kai-wei, chairman of the Huamei Food Kitchen（華美剩食廚房）in Taichung, rides a tricycle through
local markets, collecting unsold vegetables and imperfect produce that would otherwise be thrown away.
These fresh, edible ingredients are then transformed into hot meals for people in need.

Throughout the past 9 years, the Huamei Food Kitchen has recovered around 40 to 50 kilograms of surplus
food every day. With the help of volunteers and the team, the ingredients are turned into lunch boxes with 4
dishes and a soup. Lunch costs only NT$30, with the remaining cost covered by local fundings, allowing
many elderly people facing financial difficulties to enjoy a nutritious hot meal. Dinner is offered on a
"pay-what-you-can" basis, with no proof of eligibility or other requirements, ensuring that anyone going
through difficult times can sit down to a meal with dignity.

From unwanted produce to warm meals on the table, the Huamei Food Kitchen does more than reduce food
waste. It provides support for people facing hardship through practical action. Surplus ingredients can turn
to meals and warm to the community.
 

以下為中文對照

菜市場剩菜變佳餚 華美廚房接住需要的人

當市場收攤、人潮散去，另一場溫暖的接力才正開始。台中的「華美剩食廚房」理事長葉凱維，每天騎著紅色三輪車穿梭市場，向攤商回收原本可能被丟棄的剩菜與醜蔬果，將這些仍然新鮮可食的食材，化為一份份熱騰騰的餐點，送到需要的人手中。

九年來，華美剩食廚房每天可回收近40至50公斤食材，透過志工與廚房團隊巧手料理，製作成四菜一湯的便當。午餐只需30元，其餘費用由地方資源補助，讓許多經濟困難的長輩，也能安心吃上一頓營養熱食。晚餐則採「自由定價」，不需證明身分、不設門檻，讓每個處於生活低谷的人，都能保有尊嚴地坐下來吃飯。

​從市場裡被挑剩的蔬果，到餐桌上的溫暖料理，華美廚房不只是減少食物浪費，更用行動接住生活中的脆弱與需要。他們用九年的堅持證明，只要有人願意珍惜，剩食也能成為照亮人心的佳餚。

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