A Fresh Initiative to Foster Local Food Systems

Jun 5

A Sustainable Approach to Connecting Local Communities Through Food

By Dr Jane Barker

In a world increasingly concerned with food security and environmental sustainability, Valentino Costa and Tianda Williams are pioneering a fresh approach to food localisation with their app, UForage. Their vision? “Making fresh, local food more accessible, while nurturing a stronger sense of place and community,” a philosophy that is already resonating with locals and beyond.

In recent years, the Northern Rivers community has faced the dual challenges of climate-related disasters and rising global uncertainties. These pressing issues have highlighted the urgent need for a more sustainable and localised food system. As we grow more conscious of the environmental cost of global food chains, which often rely on transport, packaging and excessive cold storage, UForage offers a solution rooted in simplicity: reduce waste and make fresh, healthy produce available to those who need it.

Farming practices that rely on heavy chemical use and synthetic fertilisers are damaging both the environment and our health. By focusing on organic, locally grown produce, UForage supports small-scale farmers and home gardeners while connecting them with a community eager for more sustainable food choices.

Seed of an Idea

Valentino and Tianda’s passion for local food and community started from humble, yet meaningful experiences. With four growing children, they were mindful of the food they brought into their home. They recount the life-changing moment when they discovered a “local roadside stall overflowing with affordable, organic produce grown just down the road.” For Tianda, it was a revelation, shifting the way she thought about food and shopping forever.

For Valentino, his relationship with food is deeply embedded in his Italian heritage. “Food in his family was sacred. It was always made from scratch and shared abundantly.” This sense of community, of sharing food and stories, is something that shaped Valentino’s worldview and, later, the development of UForage.

Through their own experiences and observations, Valentino and Tianda noticed a quiet abundance in their community - fruit trees brimming with unpicked fruit, veggie patches overflowing with surplus and passionate growers with no easy way to share. This led to the creation of UForage, an app designed to bridge the gap between growers and consumers, reduce food waste and make local food more accessible to all.

How UForage Works

The UForage app offers a simple and effective way for local food growers to connect with buyers or those in need. It allows users to easily find fresh produce grown in local backyards, home kitchens or even wild-foraged foods. Whether it’s organic honey, freshly laid eggs, homemade marmalade or seasonal vegetables, the app highlights what’s available in the community.

For users, the process is easy: enter your location and preferred travel distance, and voilà – a list of fresh, local food options appears. Sellers and givers register with a small fee and are encouraged to keep their listings up to date.

For buyers, UForage offers a treasure trove of fresh, local finds. Imagine grabbing freshly baked bread, handpicked fruit, traditional homemade salami or warm milk straight from the farm, all within a short drive from home. The possibilities are endless.

Growing Success

Building UForage was not without its challenges. Valentino and Tianda faced personal and professional hardships, including devastating floods that left their family homeless for six months. “After the floods, our family of six made the decision to forgo building a new home and instead converted an old shed into our living space. This allowed us to fully commit to building UForage. It was a huge sacrifice, but one that reflects how much we believe in the project and its potential to create real impact.”

The couple’s determination and vision for a better food system are paying off. UForage is gaining traction, and feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive. “Backyard growers love having a way to share their produce, and local producers are getting new customers through the app.”

For Valentino and Tianda, the success of UForage is about more than just food. It’s about building a stronger community and creating a platform that brings value to people’s everyday lives. “The app is not only helping to connect people with food but also fostering a spirit of community.”

A Global Vision

Looking ahead, Valentino and Tianda hope to expand the app’s reach, both within the Northern Rivers region and across the world. “We want to empower local communities and reduce global waste by creating a free platform for people to share, sell or give away food.”

Their latest partnership highlights this growing vision. “We’ve recently partnered with Falling Fruit, which brings a database of 1.6 million wild-growing food locations into the fold. We’ve got a few months of development ahead as we integrate their data into the UForage map, but once live, it will make us the largest food map in the world.”

As the world faces increasing environmental and economic challenges, investing in local food systems is one of the most effective ways to address both issues. By supporting local farmers, reducing carbon footprints and fostering stronger community ties, UForage demonstrates how small, meaningful changes can make a big difference.

“We are passionate about reducing household waste and solving hunger on a global scale. And this is just the beginning.”

With the world shifting towards more sustainable and locally focused food systems, UForage is helping lead the way, one backyard vegetable patch at a time.

Valentino Costa and Tianda Williams
Valentino and Tianda are based in the Northern Rivers of NSW with their family of six.

Valentino, a creative at heart has leant his hand to many different career avenues from script writing, painting, acting, photography, cafe owner, pizza oven builder, improv comedian, former BayFM announcer, skid steer and excavator operator, right through to stock and property investment. His greatest passions are his family and creative outlets, particularly the garden.

Tianda, a full time mother and budding entrepreneur has also had an extensive list of career and creative pursuits including videography, video and radio production, childbirth education, marketing, entertainment management, disc jockey, radio announcer, singer and more.

Byron Magazine