A Victorian vegetable producer is putting surplus product to good use with the help of a $500,000 grant from the Victorian Government.
Werribee South business Fresh Select has used the funding to install a drying unit that processes vegetables and vegetable offcuts not suitable for sale, and produces nutrient-rich vegetable powders.
Fresh Select is one of the largest producers of lettuce and vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage in Australia. Its new “Nutri V” powders can be added to smoothies, sauces, soups, or baked goods to boost vegetable intake.
The new facility has the capacity to process 8000 tonnes of surplus vegetables into new products every year, and will help local growers create new revenue streams, save costs, and minimise food waste on farms.
The grant was funded through the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Business Support Fund, which is investing $4.34 million into projects that reduce waste, use materials more efficiently, and create new Victorian jobs.
Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Environment and Climate Action, said that in Victoria, 2.4 million tonnes of food products end up as waste each year.
“Innovations like this drive us towards our goal of halving our food waste by 2030,” she said.
“This home-grown, Victorian innovation will help develop zero-waste farming in our state, creating new jobs and revenue streams as we divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill, and halve emissions by 2030.”
For more information, visit: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
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