With the ongoing port strikes, tonnes of export-grade blueberries were unable to leave their farms. When this happens with other fruit, the fruit can generally stay on the trees for a bit longer. Blueberries, however, are dumped.
The issue with dumping is that it releases harmful gas into the air, and toxins that get to the groundwater. The heat generated gets trapped in our atmosphere and contributes to the warming of our planet – which is a dangerous thing.
The Food Hub Club, an organisation helping communities create regenerative food systems, reached out to its customers last week to explain the blueberry problem. They encouraged people to buy the blueberries, and freeze them if they weren’t to be used straight away.
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The delicious export-grade blueberries, which were heading to Marks & Spencers and Waitrose in the UK, were R88 a kilo. These blueberries have a lower pesticide load than typical, and the farm they are farmed on is carbon neutral.
Food Hub Club reminded customers of all the ways in which you can use blueberries: pies, smoothies, cobbler, yoghurt, and sorbet.
They told people to “give to your family and friends or people who work for you as a much needed vitamin and antioxidant boost as we enter Spring.”
Communities responded enthusiastically, and the Food Hub Club was able to save 2024 kilograms of blueberries from being dumped.
This is an ongoing crisis, that you can help alleviate. You can buy fresh blueberries at R88/kg and jam-grade blueberries at R300/5kg.
Order instructions:
- Order by clicking here
- Send proof of payment via email to confirm your order
- Orders close at 6pm on Saturday, 29 October
- Collection is on Wednesday, 2 November from the City Bowl
See how you can join the Food Club Hub’s sustainability mission here, and check them out on Instagram.
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Picture: Unsplash