Since 25th March 2020, we have saved almost 50,000 kilos fresh veggies and fruits from landfills. Our Perfectly Imperfect Goodies are not so perfect in appearance according to the market standards, but they're certainly perfect for every meal for family and friends to enjoy. Because they're simply tasty, affordable and sustainable products.
On 25th March 2020, it marks the day in New Zealand history book. Whole country was in lockdown Level 4. No restaurants, only essential services vehicles on road and everyone stay home. Sunday Market vanished overnight, seems whole world has stopped and slowing down just like that. But cucumbers or courgettes are not received that message at all, there's no sign growth rate slow down (impossible) and seems growing even fast due to less of workers and supply chain all messed up. Growers were struggling to put out their products, sooner they grow too big for the market standards and can't be sell through major auction markets. Also demanding also dropped sharply, none of these would be helpful.
On another hand, we experienced ridiculous pricy $6.99 per cucumbers and $38.99 per kilo courgettes in every major supermarkets.(nzherald.co.nz and stuff.co.nz )
According to StatsNZ it was imports from Queensland bands due to Virus, we have insane pricy courgettes in July and August
On September, vegetables price back to earth a bit however COVID impacts still there at our local growers. Brett has growing courgettes for last 20 something years in Kerikeri, this spring season his lost nearly 90%. He used to have 40 pickers in the fields to picking courgettes all day long for 2 weeks in October to wrap up the spring season, but this year he only have 3 pickers on site do the job and there're still hundreds tons of courgettes laying on the ground and become marrows. We don't see marrows in any major supermarket because they simply don't accept those from growers, yes there's market standards for what kind products can be sold to them. It has to be 'PERFECT', courgettes case that need to be certain size which pre-mature status because once courgettes matured fully grown it becomes 20cm marrows. Brett was struggling to asking to people to come up pick and go, and our gleaning team went up and 'get rid off' almost 500 kilo courgettes and marrows for him.
On that week we came back, we dropped off load at @Everybody Eats to feed people's bellies. Later the week, we join force with and launched campaigns on social media and comments and responses that we received just heart warming. Everyone is deserved some fresh tasty fruits and veggies. We keep doing researching and reaching out to local growers like Brett in South Auckland. Last week we onboard Max's courgettes farm in Taukau, and we're very exciting to share his lovely courgettes with everyone.
Our Perfectly Imperfect Goodies are not so perfect in appearance according to the market standards, but they're certainly perfect for every meal for family and friends to enjoy. Because they're simply tasty, affordable and sustainable products.