REAL LIVING | COMMUNITY
WORDS RHONA MERCER PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS BLOTT *Source: FAO
HOW DO YOU KNOW A FLUSH IS COMING? ‘In terms of strawberries, we’re reliant on the weather forecast,’ says Alastair. ‘Once we know what the weather is going to be like, we can tell Tesco how much produce to expect.’ For Paul, it’s not so straightforward. ‘Cherries are a difficult crop to predict,’ he says. ‘Cherry growers have to deal with a natural phenomenon called the “drop”. This is when trees naturally shed some of their green cherries, as they’re unable to support all the fruit until it becomes red. It’s nature’s way of ensuring only the best fruit survives.’ WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EXTRA CROPS? ‘We put together 1kg and 600g boxes of strawberries, which Tesco sells at a lower price,’ says Alastair. And thanks to the Perfectly Imperfect range,
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WHAT IS A CROP FLUSH? A crop flush is when a farm produces more food than planned, due to unpredictable growing conditions. ‘We stagger the production of our strawberries as much as possible, but the weather has a habit of doing odd things,’ says Alastair. ‘If we have a period of cold weather, it will slow the ripening process, but a few days of warm weather will speed it up and give us a crop flush.’ Paul adds, ‘Long daylight hours, coupled with cool nights, means that our trees produce lots of fruit and leave us with a lot of ready-to-pick cherries in a concentrated period of time, usually over a week or so.’
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When there’s a crop flush we put together 1kg boxes of strawberries and Tesco takes them straight away Alastair Brooks, farmer and chairman of Berry Gardens
there’s always a place for the less pretty fruit to go! ‘At the end of the harvest, the strawberries may be a bit smaller, but they’re still delicious!’ says Alastair. Paul adds, ‘When we get a cherry crop flush, Tesco offers larger packs, perfect for picnics and barbecues, and even better value for money. This support for growers is vital to maintain quality and minimise waste.’ WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE? Reducing waste is the aim for both Tesco and farmers. ‘We used to grow strawberries on the ground and 25% of our crop would be damaged by wind, birds and other animals,’ says Alastair. ‘Now we grow our crops in tunnels and have reduced waste to 4%.’ With Tesco and the farmers’ ongoing commitment to make the most of crop flushes, there’s a real drive to maximise production and minimise waste, with a positive outcome for all.
How you can help…
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Buy wonky fruit and veg – beauty is only skin deep!
Make sure you store food correctly and always check packaging for guidance.
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Love your leftovers! Try great new recipes like Zero Waste Potato and Veggie Hash at lovefoodhatewaste.com.
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GIVE ME MORE! Look out for recipes for cherries and strawberries on p29 and p81, or visit tesco.com/realfood
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