Australian Farmers Accuse Supermarkets of Deliberate Food Wastage

Farming bodies have raised serious allegations against major supermarkets, accusing them of deliberately contributing to substantial food wastage. According to these groups, approximately 40% of growers’ produce is discarded, highlighting a significant inefficiency in the system that not only impacts farmers’ livelihoods but also raises environmental concerns.The accusations come amidst growing scrutiny of supermarkets’ practices, particularly their strict cosmetic standards for fruits and vegetables, which many argue lead to excessive rejection of perfectly edible food. This issue is compounded by the economic pressures faced by farmers, who are forced to absorb the costs associated with the wastage of produce that fails to meet these aesthetic criteria.