Tonight I want to share with you some exciting news that we received via email from the Austin Health Dept: an ordinance has passed where large food producers (restaurants and the like) are required by law to either donate food that “expired” but still edible. On this note, I like to add that in many case, the food did not “truly expired” it simply is past its peak freshness. Also, those food producers are asked to participate in composting; use scraps to feed animals (think all the scraps of vegetable going to pig farms and chicken) and other options as long as it helps reducing the dumping in landfill as well as landing a hand to those who are hungry. Those businesses will not be subject to liability – as long as they practice good food handling and safety when it comes to properly handling the time and temperature zone.
On the other hand, I am hoping that this could become a step towards eventually preventing the public from causing the waste as well. The public need to learn that “a crooked zucchini or a funny looking cucumber or a short carrot” does not mean the vegetable is not tasty. Farmers always face the situation where they have to sell only super duper beautiful looking vegetable and/or fruits, so if their crop doesn’t meet the beauty contest, nobody will buy. No wonder, there is plenty of fiddling with the genetic of the fruits and vegetable. It is time to give a chance to those fruits that are not too big but are packed with flavors or those that need a bit of creativity to bring their utmost flavors when you pair them with other fruits.
Maybe, we all need to find someone from an older generation who knows how to make the best out of little and learn from them the hands on and how to appreciate all that we have. I am lucky, I had that one person from that generation: my mom. I am working on passing that down to my kids and I hope you all do.
I will be missing our customers-friends for the next two saturdays at the kalamazoo Farmers market as on Saturday Sept 15, Rollin’Gelato will be at “breaking Cycle” – Verburg Park Kalamazoo and the week that follows I will be out of town. We will have a young man present on our behalf for the Kalamazoo Thursday night market next week. Hope to see you all : We are bringing new flavors – come have a taste.
Good night ya’ll . Zzzzzz