Eleven ways we look after the earth at Western Growers Fresh

15th November 2021

Posted in: News

Eleven ways we look after the earth at Western Growers Fresh

SOLAR ENERGY TO POWER OUR KITCHENS, COOLROOMS, SHOP

  1. Our massive roof is covered with a 100kw solar panel system, providing a huge portion of the power we need in the kitchens, cool-rooms and shop. Utilising solar energy means we use less power from the grid and therefore less fossil fuel usage.

WE SOURCE 90% OF OUR PRODUCE AND FOODS FROM WITHIN 300km of our shop

  1. Low food miles – is the practice of reducing the distance our food travels, thereby reducing the carbon emitted through transport.
  2. Our fresh produce gets directly to the consumer with more health benefits as the food is fresher and less energy is required for fewer days in refrigerated storage.
  3. Buying from locals keeps the money in our community and it is spent within our community. This keeps our community strong and resilient.

UNDER 2% FOOD WASTE GOES TO LANDFILL

  1. Fresh produce not good enough for retail sales is donated to St Mary’s Church for their community kitchen. Scraps from trimmed fruit and veg and any squished or badly damaged produce is collected by a local pig farmer to feed his pigs.
  2. Take Away Ready Meals, meat, pastries, cakes that are not sold on the best before date are frozen that day and given to the Women’s Refuge to provide delicious wholesome meals for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
  3. Groceries not sold on the best before date are donated to either St Mary’s Church or the Women’s Refuge.

PACKAGING

  1. We package up as little fresh produce as possible. We provide brown paper bags for shoppers to use at the fruit and vegetable sections.
  2. We keep all usable cardboard boxes and have them at the checkout for our customers to re-use to carry their shopping home in.
  3. We offer reusable brown paper carry bags or reusable canvas carry bags to our customers.
  4. For our takeaway meals we use compostable containers as much as possible and where we have to use plastics, we choose recycled, recyclable, reusable containers.