In Finistère, Brittany, a cooperative offers to sell so-called “ugly” vegetables at low prices. Objective: fight against food waste and create a vicious circle from producer to consumer.
Upcycled ugly vegetables. With FinisteRestes 29, a cooperative specializing in degraded vegetables, Karim Vincent-Viry wants to combat food waste. This former head of big brand fruit and vegetable purchases has witnessed the madness that reigns in the food industry: throwing away food that does not meet certain beauty criteria, you could say. He wanted to change things.
Based in Saint-Paul-de-Léon (Finistère), the company works with 800 producers in the region, according to armor press, and delivers to various points of sale throughout the department. The arrivals are random, but the sale of these fruit and vegetable baskets, exclusive of Breton production, is there, as reported West France† In winter, a basket weighs 5 to 10 kilos, while that of summer is fixed at 3 to 5 kilos.
potatoes and carrots
At the moment, for example, Roscoff’s potatoes and onions, as well as heirloom vegetables, cabbage or carrots, are part of the 2,000 baskets sent daily to the cooperative’s partners. The latter also employs young people, retirees or even “accidental people”, as can be read in the telegram†
Created on November 17, 2021, FinisteRestes29’s Facebook page already has over a million views. “On the first day we had 100 customers. I thought to myself, maybe it’s a stroke of luck! The second day we had 100 customers again and the third day I posted on Facebook, I had hundreds of requests, it’s awesome! †entrusted the entrepreneur France 3†
Baskets at 5 euros
This is where the local population, companies and producers meet. The aim of Karim Vincent-Viry’s company is to get rid of all unsold products, to support companies in difficulty but to offer fruit and vegetable baskets at an affordable price (5 euros) and to create social ties between customers and relay.
Because to get your baskets you have to go through two applications, To Good to go and Phoenix, reports France 3† For example, consumers can reserve their crates of fruit and vegetables in advance and pick them up at a supermarket, a hardware store or even a florist. † If I had 20 years ago I don’t think I would have sold a single basket, but here all the planets are aligned. †
A beautiful initiative that just asks to thrive.