The BBC has produced a new programme which highlights high levels of food waste across the UK. Our chief horticulture adviser, Chris Hartfield, looks at how retailers and the public can help to address the issue.
He writes:
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The BBC Show has seen Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall place food waste firmly in the consciousness of the British public.
The programme highlighted the amount of waste caused by industry specifications on appearance that result in slightly misshapen or marked produce being discarded. It also demonstrated the detrimental effect that last minute changes to orders from retailers have on farmers who have already harvested and packed crops ready for distribution.
Farmers know that some of their crops will not reach supermarket specifications, which is why many seek other outlets for produce which doesn’t make the grade. For carrots it could be further processing into batons, sliced ranges, and what is then leftover can go for animal feed.
But it is unacceptable for a fifth of all produce to never be eaten due to unnecessarily rigid standards.
It was also good to hear Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall say “The public have to do their bit, they have to step up and say that this is perfectly good produce and if there is a spot here or a slight bruise there, we will eat and it and we will use it.”
We’d like to encourage the public, our own friends and families, to rethink their buying habits and champion their local retailer to relax specifications so less perfectly edible fruit and veg is wasted.
Retailer and grower collaboration remains vital if as much of the crop is going to be utilised as possible. Retailers need to work with growers to understand the growing season, the need for flexible specifications on fresh product and more opportunities to process product to minimise waste.
We recently highlighted this issue, and wider problems within the supply chain which could – along with growing imports - force growers out of the industry, as part of our Catalyst Revisited report. As part of this work we are speaking with retailers and encouraging them to sign up to our Fruit and Veg Pledge, a charter for best practice.