Side Delights has launched a product line of "less-than-perfect" potatoes called Spuds, which it says is packaged in 10-pound bags and created with the value- and sustainability-focused consumer in mind.
Nearly 120 billion pounds of food is wasted in the U.S. every year, according to a recent Feeding America food waste report, a total that includes produce that goes to waste on farms. In addition to financial losses for growers, producing fruits and vegetables that don’t end up in grocery carts uses on-farm resources such as water, energy and cropland.
Retailers, suppliers, and shoppers are seeking creative food waste solutions, such as the use of imperfect produce, which is a category that includes items with cosmetic blemishes, unusual color, shape or size, according to a news release.
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“Spuds was created for environmentally conscious, food-waste-minded shoppers who understand that potatoes can still be nutritious and taste delicious even if they are cosmetically challenged,” Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, said in the release.
As the exclusive supplier of Newport Beach, Calif.-based Side Delight’s potatoes and onions, Fresh Solutions Network says it is committed to improving sustainable food management practices and reducing food waste and is excited to share its imperfect potatoes that will now be packaged and sold under the new product line. Beyond the sustainability benefits, shoppers can save money since the “less-than-perfect” potatoes will cost less, according to the release.
“Spuds potatoes are non-GMO and gluten-free like all our Side Delights branded fresh potatoes. However, these potatoes are not in perfect cosmetic condition. That does not mean that they aren’t good eating potatoes,” Triou said in the release. “Peel them for a delicious, mashed potato dish, or quarter and roast them. The taste is unaffected if the potato has bumps, blemishes, or is oddly shaped.”