FoodPak initiative inspires local producers
“You could feed the world with my garbage dump. You could feed the world with my garbage dump. That sums it up in one big lump.”
This song, written and recorded in 1968 by well-known American criminal Charles Manson, describes an increasingly popular activity known as dumpster diving.
But more specifically, it recognizes the enormity of food people waste – food that may only have a slight imperfection.
That’s why there are groups trying to help solve the problem. The Federation of Agriculture on Prince Edward Island is developing a FoodPak program. As part of the program, imperfect food is recycled, diced and dehydrated into a soup mix that can last up to two years.
The soup mix is sent directly to countries suffering from disaster. Several similar programs have been developed across Canada.
George Piers, Fredericton Community Kitchen administrator, says food is too valuable to waste.
“We serve about 100,000 meals a year,” Piers said. “We can’t afford to say no to imperfect food. “Our operational budget is $250,000 a year. If it was not for food donations, our budget would double.”
If they’re not picky, then why is everyone else?
As dumpster divers have found out, much of the food thrown away has only a slight imperfection. A bruised fruit or misshapen vegetable may not meet market standards although they are fine to eat.
Up to a third of household waste in New Brunswick is organic material. This means anything compostable – mainly food.
Matthew Estabrooks and Heather Rhymes wonder that too. They own and operate The Gagetown Fruit Farm and are at Boyce Farmers’ Market each Saturday. The two former chefs farm six acres of vegetables and six acres of apples.
Estabrooks and Rhymes sell what they can – all on their own.
“We’ve chosen to avoid a lot of wholesale. Farmers deserve better than some of the wholesale prices they are offered from the large chains,” Rhymes said.
“When they offer, ‘buy one bag of apples, get two free,’ who do you think takes a hit?”
According to the two farmers, produce with small blemishes is often tossed from store shelves instead of being sold.
“I think people are too picky,” Rhymes said. “We think perfection should be found in the flavour, not the appearance.”
“We grow about 25 varieties of heirloom tomatoes and they are bizarre looking. Some of them have an alien brain look to them, but they are so tasty.”
In many economically developing countries, food is rarely thrown away, no matter what it looks like. In North America, it’s a much different story.
With a third of New Brunswick waste coming from food, perhaps the FoodPak program could be the solution for New Brunswick as well.
Rhymes and Estabrooks understand that not all vegetables and fruits can be sold directly.
But they also have an alternative for their seconds.
“We grade our produce, but we use all of the seconds in our soups, cider, preserves or dry them,” Rhymes said. “I was always taught by my chefs that you should use everything – don’t throw away your money.”
