Austria: Growers committed to prevention of discarded produce

Every year, vegetables which do not meet the optical requirements of the trade are discarded. In Tirol, Austria, 70 growers harvest some 32,000 tons of vegetables a year, and 15% of that is not sold on markets, but either destroyed or used as fertilizer. Last summer the mass destruction of produce was subject to fierce debate, according to daily 'Tiroler Tageszeitung'.

In a recent interpolation with Tirol vice-president Anton Steixner the problem was raised once more. Many people want government to put a stop to the practises. Steixner stated that his administration already ensures that in the hospitality sector "regional products are used as much as possible." How the use of local produce would contribute to less vegetables being thrown out was not made clear.

The growers themselves though, are also active in finding solutions. Josef Hechenberger, chairman of the Tirol agricultural association, said: “We have called into being a taskforce that will busy itself with the handling of disqualified produce. We can’t have perfectly eatable food be destroyed like that.” Hechenberger is convinced the local community will come up with the best possible solution.