WHY ARE YOU SO WASTEFUL?!

WHY ARE YOU SO WASTEFUL?!

Why are you so wasteful?!

By  – Amelia Baines ·  · 4 min read

Don’t you hate that feeling of being disappointed in yourself? You could have done better but life got in the way. Instead of staying in and using up what was in the fridge, you said yes to a last minute dinner at the pub. And who can blame you? We all need a social life. However…could you have made better choices with a little forward planning?

Fear not, I’m not the waste police but hopefully I can offer you a couple of tips to help you make the most of the perfectly imperfect produce you receive in your box. I might even try to remember to use them myself… 🫠

The path of least resistance is to utilise recipes which sit squarely in the ‘chuck it in’ category or as OzHarvest more aptly put it, ‘Use It Up.’ We are proud supporters of OzHarvest and they wisely created a sticky tape which is emblazoned with the words ‘Use It Up.’ You can use it to stick on a tupperware container to remind you to use up the contents or you can label a whole shelf in your fridge. I have created several recipes which you can find on our recipe blog which are specifically designed to use up a mish mash of ingredients. 

Another obvious but helpful tip is to cook a large batch of something. If you freeze it into individual portions, you can easily grab one out of the freezer to take to work for lunch or a quick weeknight dinner. One of my favourite things to do is chunky chop a selection of veg, drizzle with olive oil and roast it in the oven. Roast veggies are great served alongside some couscous and topped with crumbled feta. 

One last tip before I leave you in peace. When you get your box, take a look at the contents and then search our recipe blog for ideas. You can make a meal plan for the week, which gives you a better chance of using everything up! Happy cooking. 

A GUIDE TO ROOT VEGETABLES – AUTUMN ADDITION

A GUIDE TO ROOT VEGETABLES – AUTUMN ADDITION

A Guide to Root Vegetables – Autumn Addition

By Director – Josh Ball ·  · 4 min read
As the days grow shorter and the weather starts to cool down, it’s only natural to feel a little miffed about the end of summer. But fear not, because autumn is the perfect time to embrace root vegetables in your cooking! Not only are these veggies hearty and filling, but they also provide a wide range of flavours and textures to your meals. So, embrace the season and get creative in the kitchen with some delicious root vegetable recipes.

Potatoes

Taste and texture: Potatoes have a mild, earthy flavour and a starchy texture.

Why are they rejected: Potatoes are often rejected due to their size, shape or from minor damage during the picking process.

Most common uses: Potatoes are the most popular vegetable in Australia and can be roasted, mashed, fried or boiled.

You should try these delicious recipes with your potatoes:

Carrots

Taste and texture: Carrots have a sweet, slightly earthy flavour and a crisp texture.

Why are they rejected: Carrots may be rejected if they are too small, misshapen, or have visible blemishes or cracks.

Most common uses: Carrots are commonly used in soups, stews, salads, and as a raw snack or side dish. 

Try this recipe: ROASTED CARROTS WITH HUMMUS

Sweet Potatoes

Taste and texture: Sweet potatoes have a sweet, nutty flavour and a creamy texture.

Why are they rejected: Sweet potatoes may be rejected due to discoloration or minor damage.

Most common uses: Sweet potatoes are used in a variety of ways; they’re great roasted or fried and they make a delicious addition to curries and soups. 

Try this recipe: LOADED SWEET POTATOES

Onions

Taste and texture: Onions have a pungent, slightly sweet flavour and a crisp texture when raw, and a soft, sweet flavour when cooked.

Most common uses: Onions are a staple ingredient in many savoury dishes, such as soups, stews, and sauces.

Try this recipe: INDIAN SPICED ONION BHAJIS WITH RAITA

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGE OF SEASON

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGE OF SEASON

What you need to know about the Change Of Season – Autumn Addition

By Director – Josh Ball ·  · 4 min read

As autumn approaches in Australia, there is a shift in the types of fruits and vegetables that you will see in your box.

What’s coming in?

One of the most significant changes that occurs during autumn is the decrease in temperature. For example, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and carrots are all root vegetables that thrive in cooler temperatures. These crops also tend to store well, making them ideal for autumn and winter months.

Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are known for their tolerance to colder temperatures, and therefore are commonly grown during this season.

As the weather shifts, the variety of fruits available in Australia also changes. Autumn is the peak season for apples and pears, two of the most popular fruits in the country. The cooler weather allows these fruits to mature and develop their full flavour, making them sweeter and juicier than during the summer months.

In addition to apples and pears, oranges, mandarins also become more available.

How do I store root vegetables?

Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a pantry or cellar. Avoid storing them in plastic bags, as this can cause them to become moist and spoil more quickly.

Overall, autumn in Australia is a time of transition for farmers. As the weather changes, so must the crops that are planted and harvested.

WHY A LETTUCE NOW COSTS MORE THAN YOUR LATTE

WHY A LETTUCE NOW COSTS MORE THAN YOUR LATTE

WHY A LETTUCE NOW COSTS MORE THAN YOUR LATTE

Grow, harvest, transport – these are the three main steps in the journey that your food takes from seed to plate. Farmers put endless time and care into growing beautiful produce for us all to enjoy. However, months of hard work can be wiped away in minutes when Mother Nature decides to remind us who’s boss. The catastrophic floods which hit NSW and Queensland have had a major effect on the supply of fruit and vegetables. Anthony Joseph, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler and exporter, told ABC News that wet weather in south-east Queensland meant lettuce growers lost one crop and struggled to plant the next one as freezing temperatures set in.

In an average year, more than half of the workforce for fruit and vegetable harvesting is made up of backpackers from overseas. COVID-19 stopped this workforce in its tracks and farmers were left with no option but to dig their produce back into the ground as they had no workers to perform the harvest. Currently it’s nearly impossible to get your hands on a lettuce but back in January, Mornington Peninsula farmer Paul Gazzola explained to The Age that he was having to plough 30% of his weekly lettuce supply into the ground as he had no pickers.

Fuel prices have risen sharply so it costs more to get that pretty produce from the farm to your local store. Every disruption to the supply chain, whether it’s a natural disaster, a worker shortage or fuel price increases result in scarcity of particular products, large price increases for the consumer or both. Despite the many challenges facing both farmers and consumers, large supermarkets are still turning away produce because it is imperfect.

The reality is, if the supermarket refuses to buy the produce, much of it is destined to end up in landfill or left to rot on the vine. As Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said, “There’s nothing worse for a farmer who grows something [than] for it to be wasted in the paddock.” The climate is in crisis, many families struggle to put food on the table and yet much of our Australian produce will never be eaten.

It makes for grim reading (and grim writing) but there are better solutions. If you’re reading this article then you’re already playing your part in the solution. The fruit and vegetable industry is currently riding out a perfect storm but luckily at Farmer’s Pick, we view dimples, wrinkles and blemishes as perfectly imperfect.  

Lettuce wrap up on a positive note… As a Farmer’s Pick customer, never forget that you’re helping save the planet, one bendy carrot at a time.