Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Food and Sustainability
  • Environment
  •  

Raley's Offers 'Imperfect' Produce To Reduce Food Waste

  •  Lesley McClurg 
Tuesday, July 14, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Lesley McClurg / Capital Public Radio

Imperfect plums, pears and red bell peppers at a Raley's in Sacramento.

Lesley McClurg / Capital Public Radio

Raley’s supermarkets are experimenting with a new way to reduce food waste. It's selling "imperfect" produce.

At the entrance of a Raley's in Sacramento a large display of slightly unusual peppers, plums and pears are on sale.

Meg Burritt is Raley’s Director for Wellness and Sustainability. She points at a bin of red bell peppers.

“So, there’s nothing wrong with these except they’re a little bit big, which to me seems like an advantage, as opposed to a challenge," says Burritt.

Burritt picks up one of the red plums on sale for 99 cents per pound.

"There’s a little bit of limb rub on them you can see how the skin is slightly discolored," she says. "That’s just because when it was growing on the tree it rubbed against a limb which is a natural occurrence. But, typically this would be edited out of the supply chain."

She says some imperfect produce, or what she calls "uglies," is funneled to food banks, but a lot is tossed in landfills.

Shopper Sharron Deming picks up a plum.

"I can’t tell the difference," says Deming.

Kelly Lewis agrees.

"If they were over there I wouldn't probably bat an eye," says Lewis.

"Over there" refers to the regular perfect plums offered at twice the price.

The imperfects will be sold for the next three months at 10 Raley's stores in northern and central California.

The selected stores are all within a half mile of a USDA defined food desert in hopes of reaching consumers who couldn't usually afford produce.

If there's customer demand the company plans to expand the effort.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 Waste

Lesley McClurg

Former Food And Sustainability Reporter

Lesley McClurg reported for Capital Public Radio’s Food and Sustainability through January 2016.  Read Full Bio 

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

California coronavirus updates: Sacramento City Council may vote to continue virtual meetings

Ukraine says it's downed 200 aircraft, a mark of Russian failures in the sky

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

California coronavirus updates: Sacramento City Council may vote to continue virtual meetings

Ukraine says it's downed 200 aircraft, a mark of Russian failures in the sky

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.