World Food Day: Cherish food and recycle it, the delicious value of ugly fruits and vegetables

World Food Day, held on October 16 every year, reminds us of the major challenges facing the global food system. The "Global Food Crisis Report 2024" shows that more than 282 million people around the world are experiencing severe food insecurity. This number highlights the current crisis, and in Taiwan, we are also facing a waste problem that cannot be ignored. According to statistics, Taiwan discards 3.73 million tons of food every year, with an average of 160 kilograms of food wasted per person, most of which are edible ugly fruits and vegetables.

Looking at these shocking data, we would like to invite you to rethink: Is it really reasonable for these ingredients to be considered unworthy of entering the market or being on the table just because their appearance is not "perfect"? In fact, compared with their bright-looking counterparts, ugly fruits and vegetables are no less nutritious and delicious.

As a fruit and vegetable expert, Xuguowu is committed to reducing this type of waste and actively looking for solutions.

Starting in 2018, we have donated these special products that are not accepted by the market to major food banks. In 2020, we began to cooperate with the Taipei City Zhenjixiang Social Service Association and the Shuwu Huajia Xushi Restaurant. These ugly fruits and vegetables will be made into nutritious and delicious meals, allowing the leftover food to undergo gorgeous transformations again and again, and provide them to those in need.

It is urgent to deal with leftover food, and we look forward to your participation in making changes in your daily life! How to respond: 1. Cherish food: Start with your daily diet and develop the habit of cherishing food. Cook as much as you can, eat as much as you want, avoid excess food waste, and proper dietary arrangements can also help us live a healthier life. 2. Support: Eat at restaurants that offer "refillable meals" to help promote a sustainable and recyclable food culture. 3. Action: If you have more food than you need at home, consider donating it to provide food support to those in need.

You and I have the responsibility and obligation to take solutions to the phenomenon of food waste. We sincerely invite you to prevent every bite of food from being wasted every day, so that everyone can share the beauty of food, and create a more sustainable world for the future. .