Utilising Australian Produce
- Trends & Insights
There’s a growing demand for perfection across the food industry for ‘perfect-looking’ produce, but what if we could save the ‘ugly’ produce from being dumped and wasted?
Over the years, many food companies have had no choice but to dump product that isn’t deemed aesthetic enough to be sold by retailers.
It may be imperfect or slightly damaged, but it still tastes the same. Here at AustChilli, we have developed a process to utilise the majority of our chilli crop for fresh produce and manufacture the leftover ‘waste’ into puree ingredients which we now sell as quality food solutions across the globe.
The battle against food waste
Consumers are no longer just interested in the end product. They are curious about where their food comes from and how it’s grown.
Globally, over one-third of all food that is grown each year is lost or wasted. This not only results in significant economic losses, but also the unnecessary use of natural resources like water, energy, and land for growing, processing, and transporting.
What if we could reverse this trend by educating consumers on how to achieve 100% crop utilisation and implementing strategies to manage this across multiple platforms?
Our Farm & Systems
We are committed to reducing waste and making sustainable choices at every step of our production process. AustChilli proudly operates a vertically integrated system, meaning the produce grown on our family farm in Bundaberg is part of a true farm-to-plate solution.
This approach has made us Australia’s largest fresh chilli producer, supplying markets and retailers nationwide daily. While fresh chilli is at the heart of what we do, we also grow and manufacture a wide range of chilli, vegetable, and herb purees. Many of these ingredients are found in your favourite sauces and condiments on supermarket shelves, or serve as key components in popular burgers, wings, and pizzas.
This unique system not only allows us to fully utilise our crops but also supports local jobs, strengthens the economy, and helps secure the future of the farming industry.
Supply Example: Jalapeno Chilli
A great example of how we maximise our produce is the variety of ways we supply our Jalapeno Chilli:
1. Fresh Jalapeno
Premium full green jalapeno supplied into your local supermarket.
2. Jalapeno Puree
Shelf-stable aseptic puree which is supplied to food manufacturers to create sauces, dips and condiments.
3. HPP Jalapeno
Creating an ultimate fresh jalapeno with an extended shelf life.
4. Fresh Jalapeno for slicing/pickling
We are currently working on an Australian range of sliced jalapeno.
Supporting Farmers
In addition to suppling purees made from our own Australia-grown chillies, we also support farmers throughout Australia by offering a solution for their oversupplied produce. We absorb their oversupply produce and turn it into one of our 60+ puree lines, ranging from vegetable to herb purees.
By understanding this process and supporting us in increasing the volume of these ingredients, you help prevent economic loss in crops and contribute to supporting our Australian farmers.
Join us to embrace the Australian farm-to-plate experience!
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