We’re focusing on Food Waste for this year’s Zero Waste Week, with the theme “Use it up!”
Food waste is a massive problem with one third of food grown on this planet never reaching a human stomach.
It’s not just wasting all this edible food that’s the issue; there’s embedded energy from water, fertilisers and transportation. Add to that the fact that one in nine people around the world go to bed hungry and you’re looking at a moral dilemma too.
Thankfully some supermarkets are addressing the fact that up to 40% of fruit & veg is rejected before it reaches UK shops due to strict cosmetic standards.
Asda are selling ‘wonky veg’ boxes for just £3.50 and here’s a pic of two of them, shared by a couple of our Facebook group participants.
Here’s Alex’s wonky veg box. She wrote “Here’s my ASDA wonky veg box, in case anyone is still considering trying one. Freshness not 100%, and not expecting quality to be up to the standards of the organic boxes we’ve had in the past, but not bad for £3.50 and it’s even got a cucumber.”
We all love a naked cucumber, right?!
And here’s Tatiana’s! She wrote “£3.50 wonky veg box from Asda 🙂 what a bargain! No plastic at all, just lots of lovely veg xx”
Heather didn’t share a photo of hers but wrote “Our local asda had the wonky veg box back in today, took one and now have a load of small red onions which I am sure I can use up ”
Later in the week I was browsing the online Ocado store when I came across their “A Little Less Than Perfect” range of potatoes, carrots, onions and parsnips.
The products were getting rave reviews too! I’d not come across this range before – does anyone know how long they’ve been available?
And if that wasn’t enough to get excited about, I had an email from Fiona. She wrote”Look what I found in a Tesco shop! I was so glad to see it and hope the idea takes off.”
What about you – have you seen other retailers addressing the problem of food waste?
The food waste really is a big problem all around the world. Recently I came up to an article about American farmer, who trolls away almost 30 – 40 % of his production because it doesn’t pass the supermarket standards for beauty :O. I was really shocked of this fact. The fruits and vegetables are still taste even if they have some flaws on the surface.
I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you!