Prevent food loss with these 5 plastic-free food delivery services

Ever come across an apple with a bruise or a cucumber overly bent in Japanese supermarkets? Chances are you will say, “no.” Japan is particularly strict when it comes to putting vegetables and fruits out in the market. Severe standard inspection prevents ingredients of bad appearances from being sold. It ultimately creates food loss. A lot of food gets discarded merely for their bad appearances, despite their edibility and tastes remaining the same.

However, there are ways to get these unsold ingredients and help prevent food loss, like using food delivery services that deliver food directly from the farm! These items don’t get distributed, so people can enjoy them fresh coming straight from the farm. Producers, too, can sell products that are not up to standard at a reasonable price.

How do we know which delivery service is good? What should we keep in mind when choosing them?

One key point is choosing a service that allows you to communicate directly with the producers. This way, you can ask producers about the items before purchasing them and get advice on how to eat them. Moreover, you could even ask producers to avoid plastic wrappings (thus avoiding plastic waste) and use newspaper wrappings instead.

Communication with producers is difficult when purchasing at places like supermarkets and grocery stores. Having opportunities for exchanges enables users to enjoy their food even more.

Here are five recommended delivery services that allow you to communicate with farmers:

TABE CHOKU

Japan’s largest delivery service sent directly from the farm, TABE CHOKU has a list of over 20,000 items, including rare and limited ingredients that are not often seen in the market. Users can enjoy fresh ingredients within 24 hours of harvest, and the purchase page even lists details of “producer’s commitment,” making it easier for people to select their products.

What’s more, the quality of their produce is guaranteed because only producers who have strong concerns towards the environment in all fields of agriculture, livestock and fishery, can register themselves on TABE CHOKU.

Recommended points for TABE CHOKU

• Over 20,000 items registered on the service.
• “Producer’s commitment” is described in detail.
• Only producers who are concerned about the environment can register.

Sanchoku Owl

A delivery service with the concept of “delivering thoughts & commitment directly from the farm.” Because users can communicate directly with the producers, they can learn about these producers’ philosophies and commitment.

There is also a community function which producers post updates about their harvests, and share when to eat the ingredients and how to eat them deliciously. In addition, the site has strong ties with the local government so that users can purchase food created by producers certified by the government as well as purchase items sold at Michi-no-eki roadside stations.

Recommended points for Sanchoku Owl

• Users can purchase from producers certified by the local government.
• Direct sharing from producers about the harvest, when to eat the ingredients, and how to eat them deliciously.
• Products sold at local Michi-no-eki roadside stations are also purchasable.

Pocket Marche

Pocket Marche is a delivery service known as “an online marche that connects people who create and eat.” Users can convey their message of “gochisosama,” a phrase said after meals showing gratitude for the food they consume, to the producers, and a “gochisosama grand prize” is announced every month. Users can check how other members cook the ingredients too.

A registration function also allows users to register their favorite products and producers. A regular delivery system will enable users to receive products regularly.

Recommended points for Pocket Marche

• Direct interaction with producers.
• Users can choose the producers they like and have their products delivered regularly.
• Users can also purchase through hometown tax.

Gohiiki

A delivery service that allows users to request their selected producers to create a delivery box based on the amount of money they want to spend.
Registered producers are shown in detail and are therefore easy to select. For example, filters like “a farmer whose items arrive early” or “a farmer who grows rare vegetables” enable users to find the producer that best suits them.

Recommended points for Gohiiki

• It’s easy for users to choose the farmer that best suits them.
• Users can request the farmer to deliver based on a set amount of money.
• Users can have their favorite farmer deliver to them regularly.

MyFarmer

A delivery service that allows users to purchase safe items produced by farmers who avoid using unnecessary pesticides and chemical fertilizers. If you find a farmer you want to support, you can favorite them as a “personal farmer,” allowing you to receive messages from them on a regular basis.

Also, depending on the farmer, you can get opportunities to purchase special items or even receive invitations to visit their farm.

Recommended points for MyFarmer

• Registered farmers are those who do not use unnecessary pesticides and fertilizers.
• If users register a farmer as a “personal farmer,” they will receive regular messages from the farmer.

Conclusion

These five food delivery services all bring you closer to the producers who make the ingredients. Your food is what makes your body. It’s reassuring to see the face of the producers who make your food through these delivery services. It’s not just food loss we’re preventing. It’s also our health and, in the long run, our lives.

Originally published on Life Hugger.
Translated by Ayako Karino.