Tesco launches juice range made from unwanted produce

UK retailer Tesco has launched a new range of cold-pressed fruit juices which are made exclusively from fruit and vegetables that fall outside of produce specifications.

Juices in the new Waste NOT range will be made from surplus apples, beetroot, strawberries and watermelon, and will be produced by Tesco’s produce suppliers G’s and AMC.

Tesco says that the range could save up to 3.5 tonnes of surplus fruit and vegetables in the first 12 weeks of going on sale, drastically cutting food waste levels.

Four flavours will initially be available in the range: Orange, carrot & apple; orange, beetroot & apple; apple watermelon, strawberry, cucumber & mint; and orange, apple, celery and spinach.

Each flavour will retail for £1.50 per 250ml bottle, and each bottle used for the range will be made from 30% recycled plastic.

Tesco prepared fruit buyer Jo Batty said: “These delicious juices are the latest way that we are helping tackle food waste by ensuring as much of the crop as possible gets used.

“The fruit and vegetables being used in the range falls outside the specifications for fresh produce and although they might not be flawless to look at they still offer shoppers a great taste.

“This is the juicing way of giving these imperfect fruit and vegetables a second chance!”

Mike Bullock of Waste NOT said: “Around 50% of celery is discarded in the UK, before it even gets past the farm gate, beetroot deemed too large or small is rejected.

“It’s the same with oranges that are ‘ugly’ on the outside but still beautiful and juicy on the inside. What a waste! We couldn’t sit by and watch all this healthy produce be put in the bin.

“The solution was literally staring us in the face and Waste NOT is our way of using what’s beautiful on the inside (where it matters) and sharing what tastes good, feels good and is doing good. It’s our way of helping the planet.”