Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market launched a Rescued Organic produce program in all 130 stores in California.
The program reduces food waste and supports local farmers by bringing to market organic produce that would typically be discarded due to imperfections that do not affect quality, according to a news release.
This produce may be misshapen, under- or over-sized or slightly off-color, but it has the same taste, nutrients and quality as other Sprouts produce. The program also makes organic produce more accessible because it is offered at a reduced price.
The program will begin with 12 varieties of local produce, such as potatoes, onions, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, pears, carrots, kiwi and bell peppers.
In all, Sprouts has 380 stores in 23 states.
“Five billion meals worth of edible food are left on farms each year, and the Sprouts Rescued Organics program is designed to help address that problem,” Sprouts President and Chief Operating Officer Nick Konat said in the release. “This program allows our customers to partner with us to reduce food waste by taking home delicious, high quality organic fruits and vegetables that may look a little different but are perfectly good, keeping so-called ‘imperfect’ produce out of the landfills.”
The program will also support Sprouts’ farmer partners. Farmers’ inability to sell imperfect produce makes farming less profitable and more difficult to operate.
“We are happy to be involved with Sprouts’ Rescued Organics program because too much perfectly good produce goes to waste, solely due to appearance, and contributes to our growing environmental and landfill problems,” Peri & Sons Farms Director of Sales Mindy VanVleck said in the release. “Sprouts’ Rescued Organics program also allows Peri & Sons Farms to more efficiently fill our produce trucks which helps the success of our local farm and lessen our overall carbon footprint for delivery of goods.”
