In Australia, the challenge of food wastage, especially with fruits and vegetables deemed unattractive, is substantial. This issue not only affects the environment and economy but also incurs a significant cost to households, with an annual impact of over $36.6 billion or roughly $2,500 per household.
A notable portion of this waste is attributed to the rejection of "ugly" produce, which accounts for 30% of fruits and vegetables that do not meet supermarket standards for appearance, thus never reaching consumers. This scenario contributes to the loss of 2.4 billion kg of food and the underutilization of over 25 million hectares of land.
Encouraging the purchase of such produce and considering government intervention in subsidizing freight costs for goods are potential strategies to mitigate these challenges. Embracing these measures could play a crucial role in reducing food waste and its associated costs.
Source: thewest.com.au