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Food waste: green vegetable and potato crop glut after mild UK autumn

• mytailorisrich 4y ago
  "Cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli that were supposed to be ready later in December or in January are ready to harvest now, with some having grown to huge sizes because of the exceptionally mild autumn." An yet, massive food inflation... Sell direct from farm, people will flock there in no time.
  • montalbano 4y ago
    I think it's more complicated than that. Also from the article: > He is working with FareShare, a charity that distributes surplus food to those in poverty, to get the extra brassicas and potatoes to those who need them. So at least some farms have had the resources to get this surplus out to people. > Consumer demand is also to blame; the mild weather means people are not yet in the mood for sprouts and cabbages. Perhaps demand wouldn't be that high even at a low price. > Whilst supermarkets are adapting by offering vegetables – such as potatoes and brassicas – of a smaller size, many are refusing to pay farmers a price that would cover the cost of production. Perhaps the price wouldn't even be that low if you bought direct from farm. Operating costs for farmers have also been affected by inflation.
    • mytailorisrich 4y ago
      Giving to FareShare, means that they can't or don't want to sell. They could sell as I suggested (if FareShare take the produce it means that demand is there...) They are saying that there is a surplus that's going to waste. Of course prices would drop if sold since the alternative is to throw them away! Note that they also mention potatoes, which demand for is always there, and which retail price has gone up by 60%+ this year... I feel we are taken for a ride, or there are big inefficiencies in the market, or both.