Pick the ugly one of the bunch
Don’t mind ugly? Think it’s what’s on the inside that matters? If you share our sentiment that being less than perfect isn’t so bad, then opt to support Aussie farmers and reduce your food waste by shopping Harris Farm Market’s Imperfect Picks range. This seasonal range of fruit and vegetables might not look perfect from the outside, but are as flavourful as ever on the inside. You can snag a value box of the best and freshest imperfect products that are available, which is ever changing depending on the season. Boxes are known to include delicious picks like pears, pomegranate, potatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, avocados and much more. Plus, the Imperfect Picks range is up to 50 percent cheaper than the usual fruit and veg range!

Help food get a new lease on life
Of the 7.6 million tonnes of food wastage tossed in Australia each year, roughly 70 percent of it is still edible (big yikes). Looking to do its part to reduce the estimated 500,000 tonnes of food wastage perpetrated by the retail sector alone, Harris Farm Markets launched Re-purposeful Picks, a range of products made from upcycled perishable grocery items like fruit, vegetables and breads. Shoppers can fill their baskets with an assortment of delicious and conscience-calming products including smoothies made from upcycled fruit, breadcrumbs made from excess bread, airfried kale chips, pesto and vegetable-topped pizzas. Helping the planet has never tasted so good!

Support local farmers and produce makers
If there’s one sure-fire way to shop more sustainably, support the local economy and lend a helping hand to the environment, it’s to buy produce from local producers. Harris Farm Market’s stores stock produce from more than 300 Queensland growers, creators and producers, including Longreach Organic Lamb, Roza’s Gourmet sauces, organic chicken from Hobbs Family Farms Organic in Pittsworth, and milk from Queensland’s multi-award-winning Maleny Dairies on tap! Once you’ve devoured your first flavoursome meal made from local ingredients, you’ll never go back.

Combat climate change by backing regenerative farming
Speaking of farmers, Harris Farm Markets is getting behind growers that are employing farming practices that fight against soil degradation and climate change. Did you know a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from traditional farming methods? Regenerative and restorative farming can sequester carbon from the atmosphere while also helping soil become more resistant to drought conditions. Harris Farm Markets has more than 120 regeneratively farmed products available in-store and online, while food waste collected from Harris Farm stores has helped create compost for its partner farms – a true cycle of goodness!

Choose organic where you can
Food labelled as organic means that the plant or ingredients in the product have been grown, harvested, and processed without the use of pesticides and synthetic chemicals – and this must be certified by a third party. In other words, the food is better for you and the environment. Although it’s almost impossible to always shop organic (and if we’re being completely honest, sometimes pricey), it’s good to choose organic where you can. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, you can get your hands on an organic cheese bundle or an organic fruit and veg box, which is brimming with the likes of melons, corn, broccoli, pumpkin, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.

Reduce waste by meal planning
Apart from the obvious benefits of saving time and money, meal planning also helps to reduce food waste. If you’re eager to try your hand at some new recipes while enjoying some fresh fare, then ordering a Ready to Cook meal kit from Harris Farm Markets is the way to go. It’s as easy as choosing a meal kit (the menu changes weekly), then you will be sent the ingredients plus a digital copy of step-by-step instructions. You can create then devour the likes of spaghetti with creamy mixed mushrooms and truffle pecorino, roasted pork leg with jalapeno cabbage slaw and corn on the cob, and slow-cooked corn beef with fennel and mustard sauce. You can even make recipes that utilise the Imperfect Picks range, making the meal kits even cheaper!

Wanting to shop more sustainably? You can find Harris Farm Markets in West End, Clayfield and at Isle of Capri on the Gold Coast. 

This article was written in partnership with our friends at Harris Farm Markets.