One container in particular catches the eye in the Container Collective. It’s the red and green one, just after the “Werksviertel-Mitte” banner. When the weather is nice, there are yellow parasols in front of it and a few plants adorn the veranda. And in the container? That’s where “Grüne Tomaten Foodrescue e.V.” is located. The non-profit association is committed to combating food waste. Harry Gruber has been running the association since February 2021.
His story: Harry became aware of the free container via an advertisement on eBay classifieds. It was a perfect fit: the 57-year-old was born in Munich and has known the Werksviertel-Mitte since his youth. “Back then, this was the art park.” That meant techno parties and three days of partying. “I came here to party and was always in the thick of it!” He grins as he reminisces. He still comes to the district now, but no longer to party, but to work.
Harry grew up in Schwabing and worked in the catering industry for 35 years, 17 of which he was self-employed. This made him aware of the extent of food waste. But instead of standing idly by, he decided to do something about it. When he saw tons of mangoes being thrown away at the wholesale market because they only had a few defects, he decided to buy them. “During Corona, in February 2021, we started,” he says. Harry posted a lot on Facebook at the time to let as many people as possible know about his newly launched project. With success: today, three years later, the idea has become a non-profit association that supplies people in and around Munich with rescued food.
Green Tomatoes buys fruit and vegetables that are rejected by wholesalers due to minor blemishes and resells them in so-called rescue boxes. The boxes can either be bought in the Container Collective store or delivered to your door for an extra charge. “Our main task is to rescue and process as much fruit and vegetables as possible,” explains Harry.
Pensioners, students, families with children and people on low incomes benefit from the free distribution of the Rescue Boxes on Saturdays. During the week, Harry is also in the kitchen in his store. Then the trained chef conjures up delicious dishes from the rescued food. The dishes cost between eight and nine euros and can be enjoyed on the small terrace in front of the red-colored container store. In winter, there is so much space in the container that “we can easily seat ten people,” says Harry. Otherwise, the dishes can also be taken away. There are fresh smoothies and jams to satisfy small appetites. Depending on what fruit and vegetables Harry has in stock.
For Harry, “Green Tomatoes” is more than just a job, it’s his life’s work. “At the moment, I’m working around the clock,” he says. The work is not just about rescuing food, but also distributing it throughout Munich. The 57-year-old does this almost single-handedly – he is occasionally supported by his aunt and his mother. On the trips by his drivers. When they started at the beginning of 2021, they delivered five boxes in Munich. They now even deliver beyond Munich: to Bad Tölz, Lenggries and Aying. In Munich, they deliver to the south of Munich. The north of Munich is still missing, an area that the non-profit organization would like to develop soon. “There aren’t enough of us there right now,” remarks Harry when he talks about the need for additional drivers.
Harry also realizes elsewhere that they are not enough of a team. He has lots of plans, but is unable to realize them due to a lack of support. Harry not only wants to offer more regional products, but also organize workshops to pass on his knowledge of sustainable food processing. With courses on preserving and workshops on fermenting or vacuum-packing food. “A pineapple will soon cost three times as much,” he predicts. Harry sees the promotion of regional products as the solution to counteract the rising prices caused by additional CO2 costs.
Although the non-profit association is not profit-oriented, Harry fights every day to ensure that the association can make ends meet financially. “We don’t work for profit.” “Our main concern is that we can pay for the entire infrastructure,” he emphasizes. So far, however, the donations have only been enough to make ends meet at the end of the year.
Just how important the issues of sustainability and resource conservation are to Harry is also reflected in his overall approach. He collects rainwater to water his plants using the gutters he has installed on the container himself. With “Green Tomatoes”, he has not only launched a project that saves food from being thrown away, but also one that helps people. Harry is thus setting an example for sustainability and social responsibility in Munich.
What do you like about your city? First and foremost, it’s my home. I’m still one of the few people born here (laughs). It’s the perfect city because we’re right in the south. No matter where you want to go, you can get there quickly. I simply enjoy living in Munich!
What don’t you like about your city? The building sites! They get me down. I live on St. Martin’s Square. There are four building sites there. I don’t even know where to park anymore.
Your favorite place I grew up in Schwabing. Schwabing and Neuhausen are my favorite districts. In Neuhausen, especially Rotkreuzplatz. I also think Giesing is great now, it’s become a cool neighborhood!
When do you prefer to be out and about in the city? I hardly ever go out in the city. I try to avoid places like the city center or the main train station. I like the way they’ve done the city center, but it’s too busy for me.
Charlotte Teigelkamp
