Wasted Fruit and Vegetables
Wasted Fruit and Vegetables | Ugly Vegetables | Food Waste Posted December 18th, 2019 by Fruidel Team UK food waste – the figures In the UK people are throwing away £13bn of food each year, latest figures show. Waste and recycling advisory body says 4.4m tonnes of household food waste thrown away in 2015 could have been eaten. Of the food thrown away, 4.4m tonnes was deemed to be “avoidable” waste that was edible at some point before it was put in the bin, compared with 4.2m tonnes in 2012. The rest were scraps that could not be eaten such as meat bones, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds, apple cores and fruit and vegetable peelings. Ugly vegetables are a major cause of food waste Ugly vegetables were blamed for up to 40 per cent of wasted fruit and vegetables in 2013, as produce was discarded for failing to meet retailer appearance standards. About 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted worldwide every year and, of this, fruit and vegetables have the highest wastage rates of any food type. But just how much of that is due to “ugly veg” being tossed by farms and supermarkets? The biggest culprit for food waste may be closer to home than we’d like to admit. Supermarkets bid to tackle food waste Some supermarkets are now selling unusual shaped fruit and vegetables in boxes at a reduced cost in a bid to tackle food waste. Lidl is the fist to roll out this new incentive with its “Too Good To Waste” fruit and vegetable boxes. As part of Lidl’s commitment to cutting food waste by 25% per store by 2020, the discount supermarket has announced a national roll-out of its ‘Too Good to Waste’ fruit and vegetable boxes across its 760 stores in England, Scotland and Wales. The boxes, priced at £1.50, include approximately 5kg of fruit and vegetables straight from the store shelves. Unlike ‘Wonky Veg’ boxes that other supermarkets sell, these boxes are put together daily in-store by Lidl staff, containing fruit and veggies that may have become slightly damaged, discoloured or deteriorated. Acknowledgement: Good House Keeping & The Independent. Back to blog
Square watermelons are shaped like cubes in Japan
Square watermelons are shaped like cubes in Japan Posted September 26th, 2019 by Fruidel Team Square watermelons are common in Japan, but they are purely ornamental and are often very expensive, with prices as high as $100. Two reasons actually. First, the square watermelons are easier to stack, which makes them easier to ship. Second, and perhaps most ingeniously, with space being an issue in crowded areas of Japan, the square watermelon is designed to fit perfectly inside smaller Japanese refrigerators. But, just like the heart-shaped creations, square watermelons cost a bit more than natural round ones. It’s a small price to pay for the ability to store it in your fridge. Don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest news, recipes, and promotions. We are on all major platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and we love connecting with our community of foodies and health enthusiasts. Join us today and be part of the conversation! Back to blog
5 Unusual Fruits to Try
Posted June 11th, 2019 by Fruidel Team 1. Durian Durian is a large, spiky fruit native to Southeast Asia. It’s famous for its pungent aroma and savory smell that is sometimes described as fried onions While foreigners often have a tough time stomaching the smell, it’s much loved in many parts of Asia. Where to find it: Asian grocers, typically sold whole and frozen. In the Bay Area, I found durian at Lion Market in San Jose. 2. Jackfruit Jackfruit is native to Southeast Asia. It’s the largest tree-borne fruit in the world and can sometimes grow up to 80 lb in weight. The starchy fruit has a subtle sweetness and apple/banana flavour. When cooked, it takes on the flavour of other ingredients and shreds like pulled pork so it is becoming popular in the U.S. as a vegan meat substitute. Where to find it: Asian grocers, typically sold fresh, whole or by the slice. It’s becoming more common so some mainstream grocery stores stock it. 3. Dragon Fruit (White Pitaya) Colourful red and green cactus fruit with white flesh spotted with tiny black seeds, similar in texture to a kiwifruit. While the appearance is dramatic, the flavour was surprisingly subtle. Dragon fruit is native to Mexico but is now grown across Latin America and in Asia. Where to find it: Well-stocked grocery stores and Asian markets. 4. Cherimoya Cherimoya was one of the most popular new discoveries at our FruitCrawl. The fruit, native to South America is filled with a soft, custard-like white flesh that gives it the nickname “custard apple.” I think it tastes like a combination of banana, pineapple, and bubblegum. Where to find it: Latin American markets and well-stocked grocery stores. 5. Kiwano (Horned Melon) Kiwano is a beautiful and otherworldly-looking fruit that is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. The fruit has bright orange spiky skin filled with yellow and green seeds. The vibrant flesh tastes like lemony cucumber. Where to find it: Well-stocked grocery stores and specialty food stores. Back to blog