![]() Ojha said his company has managed to divert about 4,500 tonnes of food, by not just serving customers but also connecting food producers with food processors who might not otherwise find each other. Spud.ca donates what it doesn't sell to charities. Some companies also have other ways to reduce waste besides selling to customers. Thibaut Martelain started Montreal-based Marché Second Life in 2015 after being inspired by France's efforts to fight food waste, and says the company has rescued 1,500 tonnes of food since then.īoth Marché Second Life and FoodFund have expanded beyond produce to offer products like cheese and packaged foods that can't be sold due to problems such as errors on their packaging or that were somehow produced in surplus. They also say they've had a big impact on food waste. "It's been really nice to see that people are able to actually afford eating nutritious, whole foods," said Divyansh Ojha, founder and CEO of London, Ont.-based FoodFund, which serves southwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. In fact, some say a key goal is making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to all. Tkac started to offer "imperfect produce" alongside Spud.ca's other groceries in 2016, after being struck by the near-perfect appearance of fruits and vegetables in Canadian supermarkets, which was so different from what he saw growing up in Slovakia.Ĭompanies that offer only imperfect and "surplus" produce say they've seen a lot of growth lately amid rising food prices. "As long as you can cut out a little blemish, you're paying half the price for a 95 per cent usable product," said Micky Tkac, senior director of produce for online grocer Spud.ca, which has customers in Calgary, Edmonton and B.C.'s Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Thompson Okanagan regions. ![]() Produce that doesn't meet those standards is hard to sell and can end up in landfills.Ī number of Canadian online grocers are now offering farmers a chance to sell that produce at a deep discount compared to similar fruits and veggies at the supermarket. Supermarkets have strict cosmetic standards for fruits and vegetables - they need to be relatively uniform in size and shape, without blemishes such as scarring. The bonus? Amid rising food prices, eating "ugly produce" could save you money. But you can get them delivered straight to your door thanks to businesses across Canada dedicated to fighting food waste - and its greenhouse gas emissions. Twisty carrots, lopsided apples and eggplants with interesting scars aren't something you normally see at your local supermarket.
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