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Linh Pham

Have you ever painstakingly handpicked over a selection of tomatoes in the super market, selecting the one that really grabs your heart and soul, feeling a little guilty about the less-than-beautiful little buggers you’re leaving behind? Ever wonder about what happens to the ugliest of all produce that didn’t pass the Instagrammable test, or at lease the aesthetic standards of massive grocery chains?

Well, it’s actually a pretty big problem, above and beyond aesthetics. Our tendency towards purchasing only the prettiest produce means that quite a bit of perfectly edible food ends up wasted. Ethics aside, this has a pretty detrimental impact on our environment.

We reached out to Jas Banwait, head of marketing at Flashfoodbox, the company that has launched the Ugly Produce Box, to find out a bit more about the importance of ugly food and how we can do our part.

Where did the idea of an Ugly Produce Box come from? 

I’ll back up a bit and first tell you about how we got into it in the first place. Flashfood is actually an app that we launched at Farm Boy in London, Ontario locations. We offer steep savings on surplus food or food that is approaching its best before date through our app. That means that grocery stores throw away food that is 3 to 5 days before its best before date (which is NOT an expiry date, by the way).

That food is still perfectly fresh and becomes destined for the landfill. We divert it to our “Flashfood zone” which is a fridge and shelf in store where people can view items on our app, buy them and pick them up in store. This led us to start Flashfoodbox and tackle the problem of “number #2” produce (produce that does not meet the aesthetic guidelines of grocery stores) which also gets thrown out.

The idea came from the CEO, Josh Domingues, who received a frantic call from his sister who is a chef one day, upset about how she had to throw away $3000 worth of food after a catering event. This got him thinking about what a ludicrous problem this actually was. He came across a statistic that changed his life and got him to start Flashfood:

“If International food waste were a country, it would be the third leading cause to GHG emissions behind the US & China” – National Geographic (March 2016)

Image of ugly produce in an “Ugly Produce Box”

What are some of the environmental implications associated with unnecessary food waste? 

When food gets thrown out, it usually ends up in a landfill, gets covered by other garbage and rots. When this happens, the food doesn’t have oxygen and the decomposition process produces methane gas. Methane is one of the gases that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change.

Do you have any statistics or numbers on how much food or produce gets wasted each year in Canada? 

One third of the world’s food ends up in a landfill. That’s 1.3 billion tons of food wasted every year. In Canada, $31 billion worth of food is wasted every year in Canada.

Where does the produce come from for the Ugly Food Box? 

We’re currently focused on rescuing food from the landfill. We’re working with a farm in Leamington, Ontario called J.C. Fresh Farms Ltd, which includes its own number 2 qualified produce and sources the rest from their network of greenhouses and other partners across North America.

In addition to subscribing to a service like Ugly Produce, what other tips do you have on how to avoid unnecessary food waste when purchasing from a grocery store? 

-Meal prepping and planning is really important as it will help you buy perishable food that you will be consuming in that particular time period

-Food organization is really important before, during and after your grocery trip in the sense of looking at your fridge and seeing what’s available, making a list to see what you need for that week and then organizing your fridge based on oldest to newest. Don’t hide things in the back that could easily spoil.

-Don’t bag food or food items and than randomly put them back in a different spot. Typically misplaced food items all get thrown out rather than restocked.

-Take reusable produce bags with you when shopping!

Image by Christine Gottardi

Whether you’re travelling this summer, living by the lake or just staying put, it’s great to have a few useful items ready to go no matter what adventures or chill-out sessions come your way. We’ve curated the best of the best for a summer of conscientiously chic self-care and practicality (and everything is Canadian too).

Bamboo Turkish Towel/Blanket 

If you don’t have a stash of Turkish towels and blankets already, now is a great time to start your collection. Traditional Turkish towels are recognized for their supreme absorbency. They dry quickly so they don’t absorb much moisture from a humid climate, rendering them extremely useful for beach days and travelling. They are also eco-friendly, with a luxurious feel and beautiful in quality. Their versatility makes them a must-have for summer, perfect to use as sarongs, picnic blankets, shawls, towels, table cloths and more.

Our Pick – Bamboo Turkish Blankets by House of Jude

Thick enough to act as a blanket or shawl for around the camp fire and thin enough to travel light and compact as a perfect beach towel.

From House of Jude Instagram 

Zero Waste Self-Care Products

As we transition our focus to more ethical beauty practices, we couldn’t be more excited to see so many brands step up to the plate by providing conscientious beauty lovers high quality products that actually work. And while many are taking care to ensure their ingredients are ethical while maintaining that luxurious effectiveness, there are few that are considering the actual packaging that their products come in. This summer, we are minimizing our plastic footprint and officially putting a hard stop on buying shampoo and conditioners that come in plastic bottles. Luxe, sustainable brand Unwrapped Life offers a stunning range of high quality, zero waste self care products. It has never been easier to be part of the solution AND enjoy high quality beauty. While we are smitten with their #zerowaste shave bars and vegan soaps, our product of choice is the shampoo and conditioner duos. Not only do they smell amazing (and look great on Instagram) they actually work as good if not better than salon-purchased products. Plus they are perfect for cottage life and lake-friendly hair washing.

Our Pick – Shampoo and Conditioner in Bora Bora 

Hydrating Electrolyte Powder

While we all know the importance of drinking plenty of water, we love the idea of getting added benefits for our efforts, like an extra energy boost and a glow that comes from the inside out. Electrolytes (sodium, calcium, potassium, and phosphate) and their powders enhance our hydration efforts with electric charges that stimulate our muscles and nerves and also regulate the fluids in our bodies. Our powder of choice is one that adds extra beautifying benefits with each dose. A glass of water infused with Age Quencher’s HYDRATE Beauty Electrolyte promotes radiant skin and gives a boost of energy as it works to hydrate all the body’s cells and combat fatigue and free radical damage. It also works to prevent signs of premature aging by hydrating our skin along with our insides. We also love Age Quencher’s powder because unlike other powders, it can work to reduce inflammation, brighten skin tone and aid in digestion.

Our Pick – HYDRATE Beauty Electrolyte from Age Quencher

Eco Friendly Produce Bags

Whether you are a Farmer’s Market fiend in the summer or picking up produce at your super market, we all know that plastic is out. While increasing our intake of fruits and vegetables is always encouraged, it is vital to remain mindful of our packaging habits. Single use plastic produce bags are detrimental for our planet. This summer, we’re investing in our bodies and the earth with a reusable produce bags made out of sustainable fabrics.

Our Pick – Mesh Produce Bags from credobags

Breathable, Eco-Friendly, Flowing Clothing 

We could not be more over compression black tights and tight tops that keep our beautiful energy sucked in and pulled tight. This summer, we’re saying goodbye to plastic clothing and embracing eco-friendly fabrics and flowing clothes that keep our minds free and our bodies at ease. We’re opting for clothing made of fabrics such as luxuriously twilled bamboo, soft linens and ethical practices (and special nods for being made in Canada).

Our Pick – Unisex Crossover Bamboo Capri from Zen Nomad