Approximately one thirdof the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets lost or wasted, and perishable goods like fruit and vegetables have the highest wastage rates of any food.
But a revolution is taking place across the U.K., and big-name brands are beginning to wake up to food waste and offer up their ‘ugly’ (but perfectly edible) fruit and veg to consumers.
Here’s where you can buy the wonky veg that no one loves.
1. Lidl’s ‘Too Good to Waste’ veg box
You can now buy all the wonky veg you like at Lidl from just £1.50. Introduced as a trial last year, the company sold more than 50,000boxes and helped prevent 250 tonnes of food going to waste.
Their 5kg boxes are packed with fruit and vegetables that are slightly damaged, discoloured or deteriorated, but are still good to eat. According to Lidl, this is just the beginning:
‘With a commitment to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030, we are playing our part in stores, but more importantly, with our key suppliers, to do the same.’
2. Asda’s wonky veg box
Asdahas a similar initiative to Lidl. For 30 percent less than the retail price, you can order a 5kg box of wonky veg. The exact contents are based on seasonal availability, but think:
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Cabbages
- Leeks
- Garlic
- Onions
You get the idea. They deliver 20 boxes to 300 of their larger stores on a weekly basis, helping put an additional 300 tonnes of misshapen veg on to the shelves.
To find a store near you, use their store locator.
3. Wonkyvegboxes.co.uk
Wonkyvegboxes.co.uk is exactly what it says it is. According to their site, they:
‘Rescue the surplus, deliver it to your door and donate 10 percent of our produce to charities and food banks around Leicester. We have 0 percent food waste as a business.’
If you live in the Leicestershire, North Warwickshire or Tamworth areas, we recommend signing up for some wonky veg to be delivered to your door. Find out if you live inside their delivery zones.
4. Wonky veg, direct from the growers
Our friends at Graig Farm produce award winning produce, and the stuff they grow that doesn’t make the cut is thrown into a discounted box and sold to the public via their website.
It’s organic fruit and veg, too, even if it is wonky. All we ask is that you watch that premium price tag.
5. Morrison’s wonky veg selection box
Similar to Lidl and Asda, Morrison’s also has a wonky veg boxat a discounted price than on-the-shelf perishables. For only £3.50, you can get a box delivered that includes a selection of seasonal vegetables, including carrots, swede, leeks and onions.
As Morrison’s put it, it’s vegetables that are ‘beautiful on the inside.’
Go organic with a Pikt Fresh box
Wonky veg is an excellent way of reducing food wastage in the U.K., and we’re completely behind the initiative. But wonky veg from the supermarket is still mass-produced using pesticides.
Here at Pikt, we do things organically. Direct from farm to table, our range of fruit and veg boxes are both organic and plastic free; we pay our farmers fairly, and we give you the chance to offset your carbon footprint. That’s good for you, good for the farmers, and good for the planet.
To explore our range of organic fruit and veg boxes, get shoppingtoday.
