With people moving towards the waste free movement scientists are constantly creating new ways to use imperfect fresh fruit and veg.
Whilst a lot of Aussie’s support the waste not movement, we still tend to pick the perfect looking fresh produce in stores.
With this in mind the wheels are turning on how to make this imperfect produce edible in the eyes of every day Aussies.
With systems rolled out across the major supermarkets already Woolworths, Coles and even Harris Farm have a discounted section for their seasonal fruit and veg that might be a bit funny looking but perfectly edible.
So at this years Hort Connections conference, the broccoli latte didn’t quite make the cut, in its place however sat the cauliflower latte.
Fresh Select CEO and Farmer John Said told ABC Rural ‘Broccoli latte was a great story, a bit of a novelty to create awareness on what is possible.’
The 2018 Horticulture Innovation report found that over half of adult Australians were not eating enough fruit and when it comes to veg two thirds don’t meet the recommended intake.
At the conference the cauliflower latte was flying out of the baristas hands – they simply couldn’t keep up with the demand.
‘It’s got a creamier characteristic,’ John Said added ‘But it does remind you that you are consuming cauliflower as a vegetable.’
Opening the door to turning other produce into powder the conference was buzzing with possibilities.
The good feedback from consumers means that maybe the market is ready for this to hit the stores.
Lauren Scott from Produce Marketing Association in America told ABC that to boost fruit and veg sales we need to move away from the idea that produce is only healthy.
‘Look at what avocadoes have they’re all the rage in Australia, and it's not just because they're good for you, it's because they are popular, they're rich, they're treated like butter, so if we can think about produce items and how they're beyond healthy, that's what can drive sales.’
So it vegetable coffee the answer to Australia’s lacking produce consumption?
