What is it? What does it matter? How is Wildways Botanicals trying to help?
Fewer people than ever are willing to go toe-to-toe and dispute the fact that existing systems are failing us. For many, the status quo is no longer an option and only exposes the growing discrepancies in affordability across the board - in medicine, home security, and the quality and nature of the food we have access to, or have to rely upon. The upshot for all is that our human health is being compromised at the same time as our planets ability to sustain us. Building a food system where all food realizes its' best use has become a necessity and forms part of an Upcycled food movement that is rapidly gaining ground.
Upcycled food is good for the environment; good for food and water security. Knowing where your food comes from is a very powerful tool for food sustainability. The more you know, the easier it is to make important decisions that can improve your health and the planet.
Over 30% of all food produced globally is wasted or lost (Food and Agriculture Organization), with North America having the worst record. Despite the mistaken thought that farmers in North America have a better deal than elsewhere in the world, farmers still lose 20% of their crop each year to waste because it is 'ugly' or imperfect and only receive about 15c on the dollar for their produce. Many farmers are being squeezed out of business by rapidly rising input costs and the competitive prices of produce from foreign markets; that's a BIG problem for society and the planet.
The intention behind the Upcycled food movement is to help by creating new, high-quality products from surplus food, finding a use for them, and a beneficial place for imperfect, soft or bruised fruits and vegetables, edible stems, leaves and leftover pulps from juicing etc.
An example of this is our Wildways Botanicals dog treats - made with all natural and local goods: spent grain from our local craft brewery Three Ranges Brewing Company https://threeranges.com/ and Zucchini Flour made from nothing but local farm fresh zucchini from the biodynamic Balsam Ranch Balsam Ranch | Dunster BC | Facebook, local Ancient grains flour and eggs, and all natural peanut butter. I must admit to snacking on them as I make them - the spent grains have an intriguing and more-ish taste, made especially good because we know the sugars have already been used up in the beer brewing process! and all the dogs we have tested them on choose them over commercially imported options.
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