Maryland's Daniel Lee and Maryville's John Hodge run an online fruit and vegetable delivery service called The Fruit Fund.

They offer different-sized crates of produce, hand-picked from the local farmers' markets, and deliver to 20 suburbs across Newcastle on Mondays and Tuesdays. Prices range from $10 to $50.

The pair run the part-time venture as a social business.

All profits made are donated to an orchard and fish farm in Jos, Nigeria, where violence, poverty and unemployment are rife.

The two agricultural projects run hand-in-hand to feed the local community, including hundreds of orphans and refugees.

In the six months since Mr Lee and Mr Hodge established The Fruit Fund, they have donated about $7000 to the orchard and fish farm, which has helped pay employees' wages.

Mr Hodge spent the first 10 years of his life in Jos, where his parents still live today.

He has seen first hand the unrest in an area divided by religious and political tensions.

Mr Hodge encouraged local residents to get on board and support the cause, which he said was easier to do than one might think.

"A lot of people give to charity as an extra," he said.

"But with this, you're getting your fruit and vegetables and supporting the disadvantaged at the same time.

"It's money that you're already spending at the supermarket, [but it's] simply going to a better cause."

■ To order fresh produce, or to see which suburbs The Fruit Fund delivers to, go to thefruitfund.org.