SURPLUS VEG RESCUE

Working closely with farmers and growers

WAGING A WAR ON WASTE

A scary amount of perfectly decent fruit and vegetables get wasted every year.

The squandering of nature’s bounty was driving us loopy. So Waste Knot came about as a way of getting surplus veg out of farmers’ fields and into chefs’ kitchens.

Our ambition is to make sure the farmer is paid and receives a commercial value for produce at the same time as helping the hospitality sector to enhance its sustainability credentials. We will continue until every overlooked fruit and vegetable is restored to its rightful place.

Around 7% of what’s grown in the UK never makes it to a plate - that’s more than £1 billion worth of goodness going to waste.

THE WASTE KNOT WAY

We looked at the conventional way of getting food from farm to kitchen and gave it a little tweak.

We work alongside the traditional way of doing things, but give growers a new market for their surplus and chefs the challenge and reward of making great food from seasonal ingredients.

We work with single lines and mixed boxes, the same as everyone else. Most of what we rescue is made up of the familiar staples, but we also love finding a use for the parts of the plant that are usually discarded and discovering new and unusual crops (cauliflower leaves and collard hearts anyone?)

We’re lucky to know several farmers who get a similar kick out of trying something new, and we try to share their discoveries to spread the word about innovations in growing and harvesting.

All the farms we work with are either Red Tractor or LEAF accredited (or both) so we know their food is grown responsibly and sustainably.

NEWS

Featured
When life gives you apples…
When the mind slows down, something else comes through
When the mind slows down, something else comes through

Since the COVID-19 crisis has forced the closure of all restaurants, pubs, bars etc, as well as creating an unprecedented demand on food redistribution charities, our efforts are now fully-focussed on getting as much produce to those in isolation, the vulnerable and low-income families through various partners such as Fare Share

Positive Deviants
Positive Deviants

For too long now, the industries which we act as a matchmaker for have been on the rocky road of romance, losing the love, respect and connections with each other which we all know are cornerstones for a happy, long-lasting relationship. Enter right the Fairy Godmother (us) to wave their magic wand (shovel-shaped) to reignite the ways in which we can reshape, rework and rediscover lost pathways which used to fortify our bonds with food.

“Working with Jess and Waste Knot has been an amazing opportunity to make a meaningful difference in our purchasing as a business. The importance of using all that is grown – and showing our support as an industry is imperative. More than ever we should be making sure that we support our producers and show all ingredients the respect they deserve.”

— Sabrina Gidda, Executive Chef, Allbright