Czech customers are ready for wonky carrots and less than perfect potatoes says initiative for combatting food waste
It has been estimated that an enormous amount of food - 88 million tonnes is wasted in the European Union annually. A new campaign by the Zachraň Jidlo initiative wants to make a small dent in food waste the Czech Republic, reporting that up to one-fifth of fruit and vegetables is thrown away without ever making it to the store, for strictly cosmetic reasons.
“With our campaign, which translates as ‘I’m Ready’, we are focussing on food waste in agriculture, specifically on how almost 20 percent of fruit and vegetables are rejected by supermarkets or before they ever get to supermarkets due to strict cosmetic standards. There is nothing wrong with the food but it is rejected right at the start so it doesn’t get into stores. We would like to offer possible solutions as well as of course to raise awareness.”
We’re talking about fruit and vegetables which don’t fall within the norm, which for various reasons look different or a little ugly or not what one is accustomed to. Is that correct?
“Exactly. We are talking about smaller potatoes or bigger cauliflowers or wonky carrots: any produce which doesn’t look perfect but which tastes the same.”
I would have thought that at least a segment of the population would welcome the opportunity to buy some of this fruit or some of these vegetables, perhaps at a discount, considering there are people pinching pennies…
“Right now we are trying to collect as many signatures as possible to show supermarket chains that there are customers who would buy less than perfect produce. It doesn’t have to go to waste.”
