As spring begins, Irish households are being encouraged to make simple changes to their weekly shop by choosing seasonal, home-grown produce which will help support local farmers.
With this in mind, Too Good To Go, the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food, is encouraging people to take advantage of the wide range of Irish produce currently in season this March.
Food waste remains a major issue in Ireland, with households among the largest contributors to the problem each year. According to the EPA, the average household throws away an astonishing €700 worth of food every year.
Tasty Irish-grown vegetables including kale, mushrooms, parsnips, leeks, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage and brussels sprouts are all currently in season and packed full of flavour and nutrients.
Irish apples, onions and rooster potatoes are also still widely available from winter storage and still offer plenty of goodness, while winter favourites like celeriac and beetroot are coming to the end of their season, making now the perfect time to enjoy them before they disappear from shelves.
SIMPLE TIPS
To help avoid food waste while enjoying great seasonal fruit and veg, Too Good To Go is sharing its top tips for making the most of March produce:
End-of-week smoothie: If fruit is starting to soften at the end of the week, blend it into a smoothie rather than letting it go to waste. Early-season rhubarb can also add a delicious seasonal twist. Gym goers can add a scoop of protein powder.
The Ultimate Sunday Roast – March is the peak season for hearty vegetables like carrots, parsnips and cabbage. Pair them with Irish Rooster potatoes and Bord Bia approved Irish meat for a traditional Sunday roast made with quality Irish produced ingredients.
Irish fruits: Make the most of stored winter Irish apples by packing them in lunchboxes for a healthy snack, or combine them with in-season rhubarb in a delicious fruit tart served with fresh Irish cream before summer fruits arrive.
Healthy Shots: If vegetables are starting to wilt at the end of the week, blend and strain them into a healthy shot rather than letting them go to waste. A knob of fresh ginger or turmeric can also add a fiery, immune-boosting twist.
For those interested in saving food from going to waste, Too Good To Go’s app connects people with unsold food from more than 1,800 partners across Ireland, including major retailers, as well as independent shops and cafés.
