Australia: Almost 90% of edible tomatoes thrown away based on appearance...

Up to 87% of undamaged, edible tomatoes harvested from a commercial Queensland farm were rejected and wasted based on appearance, a study has found, highlighting the problem of food wastage.

Tara McKenzie, an environmental scientist at the University of the Sunshine Coast, said that at every point in the supply chain, edible tomatoes that were slightly odd-shaped or marked or deemed too small or too large were rejected because they didn’t meet market standards for premium, unblemished product. She found between 68.6% and 86.7% of the produce was rejected.

The government estimates food waste costs the Australian economy $20bn each year.

Researchers examined a farm in Bundaberg that had two separate supply chains running to provide tomatoes to markets in Bundaberg and Brisbane. Led by McKenzie, they followed the tomatoes from the point of harvesting through to sorting and handling, transport, and storage. Full story...

Related posts:

1. Britons throw away 1.4million edible bananas each day...
2. Stores finally begin selling ‘ugly’ produce to solve hunger and waste...
3. 'First' food waste 'supermarket' opens in Leeds...
4. Save the planet. Eat ugly...
5. 'Use by' dates contribute to unnecessary food waste...
6. Supermarkets in UK throw away half of food as families starve...
7. How Norway is selling out-of-date food to help tackle waste...