Innovation and Off-Grade Food (Due to Imperfections): Drivers and Deterrents
Waste in the food industry is a major issue for policy-makers, retailers, distributors, processors, and producers alike. Waste occurs in various forms at every level of the supply chain. Every apple that isn’t consumed represents a waste of money, labour, land, water and energy. It is not uncommon to see large amounts of unharvested fruit left on trees or rotting on the ground. Farmers consider this fruit waste because they know it will be deemed off-grade for not meeting specifications for shape or colour. This brief paper examines how food processing companies in British Columbia are successfully using off-grade ingredients in a variety of processed foods and the advantages and deterrents to using such ingredients.