Oxfordshire charity on calls for more fruit and veg to be sold loose
It follows research by WRAP based in Banbury.
It's as new data suggests 8.2 million shopping baskets of fruit and vegetables are wasted every year in our homes, because we’ve bought more than we can use in time.
The new report published today shows that 65% of shoppers would like to buy more loose fruit and veg if more were available.
Almost half (44%) say the biggest barrier to not buying loose produce is simply that not enough is available.
The research has been released by the charity, Love food Hate Waste, as part of the fourth annual Food Waste Action Week, which is encouraging people to choose what they’ll use and only buy what they need.
With most retailers selling some loose produce like potatoes, carrots and apples, Love Food Hate Waste is looking to help retailers sell more fresh items this way, and calling on everyone to choose loose whenever they can.
Harriet Lamb is the CEO of Banbury based environment charity, Wrap, and says she's shocked at the value of items being thrown out:
"A typical household of four is chucking out on average £1000 worth of fruit and vegetables each year, simply because they've bought more than they need.
"If we buy more that's sold loose, we're likely to only buy what we'll use, save packaging and save ourselves money.
"I'm delighted Environment Minister Robbie Moore is supporting the campaign so far, and calling on everyone to only buy what they need in the fruit and veg aisles."
"When it comes to the actual specific items we're discarding most, potatoes are up there with three million whole spuds thrown away every day."