Herefordshire gin company asks growers to donate their ‘wonky’ raspberries
1st August 2024
Herefordshire-based rum and gin manufacturer, Penrhos Spirits, is asking local farmers to donate their ‘wonky’ raspberries, which can be used in gin production.
This way the company would like to help reduce food waste as well as make their production practices more sustainable, its spokesperson said.
Hereford Times reported that the appeal comes as a response to data showing that up to 20 percent of UK-grown raspberries go to waste every year, with the Penrhos Spirits spokesperson adding that the drink-makers want to save more berries this summer than ever before.
The company said that they have already saved over 100,000 wonky raspberries in the production of their wonky raspberry gin, using raspberries from both their own farm and from Oakchurch farm in Staunton-on-Wye.
Locals can go on to help save the raspberries themselves by making an environmentally conscious choice when shopping and buying a sustainably sourced, packaged and produced gin, they added.
Better way to use imperfect berries
Farmer, distiller and co-founder of Penrhos Spirits, Charles Turner, said that reducing waste has long been at the heart of the company’s business practices.
The idea to create the wonky raspberry gin originated after a particularly rough week of bad weather damaged a number of Mr Turner’s berries, forcing him to send them to a bio-digester to be decomposed.
Dissatisfied with the waste, Mr Turner set out to find a better way to make use of imperfect berries, eventually resulting in the founding of the company, the Hereford Times reported.
Penrhos has also recently begun packaging all their gins in custom-made 100 percent recycled aluminium bottles. They were the first alcohol brand to do so.
The company also partners with Oddbox to create a ‘deliciously odd’ limited edition of cucumber and apple gin, made with waste products rescued by Oddbox.
Mr Turner said: “Penrhos Spirits wants to get as many farms as possible on board with their save the raspberries campaign, so they can rescue raspberries all over Herefordshire and beyond.
“If you know of some raspberries that might need rescuing, please get in touch at hello@penrhosspirits.co.uk.
“And if you want to help save the raspberries yourself, head down to your local Sainsbury’s and pick up a Penrhos Spirits Wonky Raspberry Gin to enjoy this summer.”
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