Vast quantities of asymmetrical fruit and veggies are cast aside on the farm simply because they’re ugly and misshapen. Now a new start-up, called Imperfect, hopes to change that. The Eco-friendly company collects and sells these ugly fruits and veggies,10-14 pounds to your doorstep for $12.
As food journeys from field to plate, 40 percent of it will be wasted. According to a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council, that amounts to $165 billion in wasted food, and don’t forget about the water resources and fossil fuels used to produce and ship that food. Imperfect is among a handful of companies looking to reduce the amount of waste in the food system. The company works with supermarkets and food distributors to gather their rejects, package them and send them to a hungry home. Farmers earn a little extra income on produce that would be wasted, customers get inexpensive produce, and each pound of produce purchased saves 10 to 35 gallons of water. There are a lot of winners.
On another front, former Trader Joe’s president Doug Rauch opened a non-profit grocery store, Daily Table, in Massachusetts earlier this year. Daily Table sells foods that have all outlasted the “sell-by” date on their packaging. Daily Table’s prices are considerably lower than your traditional store, and it provides a healthy option for low-income families or bargain-loving shoppers. The United States has an abundant food supply, and companies like Imperfect and Daily Table are working to ensure we don’t take that for granted……
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