Here is a simple way to use less than perfect tomatoes from our friend Siloé at Suburban Homestead.
It can be disheartening, especially for first time gardeners, when Mother Nature partially destroys your blue ribbon Brandywines. Trust me; I’ve been there. Believe it or not though; you can still use those tomatoes in a simple sauce that is quick and easy to make.
[quote_box_right]The average American consumer discards 10 times as much as the average Southeast Asian.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization 2011:[/quote_box_right]
Americans have become indoctrinated into the belief that we can only eat perfect food; causing almost 50 percent of all agricultural products in our food chain to end up in landfills. Think about that for a minute.
If you also consider the food industry uses 30 percent of all energy, 50 percent of all land, and consumes 80 percent of all freshwater; the impact is staggering.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council; the largest percentage of waste comes from us; the consumer. We waste almost 165 billion dollars annually; equivalent to $2275 per family of four.
How and why does that happen? Several reasons.
- Low Food Prices. The mentality that cheap equals disposable has been prevalent for years. The average consumer has become way too comfortable with cheap food prices; our food system is based on a low cost product. It is why we have such a large amount of High Fructose Corn Syrup in our food; HFCS is cheap to produce and improves the taste of food. The downside of that is the health issues associated with HFCS. Once you account for the strain on our health care system; it’s not quite so inexpensive anymore.
- Improper understanding of use by dates. People have come to the belief that use by dates are set in stone and the law of the land. Ever see someone freak out because their milk is two days “old”? Down the drain it goes.
- Spoilage. Food spoils due to improper storage methods, misjudging food needs and partially used food product. How many bags of stale potato chips have you discarded in your lifetime?
- Bulk Purchasing. I have a friend that buys everything at Sam’s Club. I always shake my head at the one gallon jug of relish sitting in his refrigerator that gets thrown out every three months and replaced.
- Preparing too much. How many times do you go way overboard with the amount you make for dinner? It goes into the refrigerator for “later”. Later never comes and it goes into the trash several days after.
With uncertain energy costs, water shortages in California and loss of arable land; it only makes sense to try and make a change in the food system.
That change starts with you.
Eat that imperfect tomato.
Make sure you check out Siloé’s other videos on his youtube channel; they are well put together and full of information.
