Supermarket rejects oversized pumpkins: come pick them at farmer Jan’s
What started as a good year for farmer Jan Overesch in Raalte now looks set to end almost in the waste bin. His field is filled with no fewer than 50,000 kilos of organic Hokkaido pumpkins, but supermarkets don’t want them. Because the pumpkins weigh between 1.8 and 2.5 kilos, they fall far outside the size supermarkets use, between 700 and 1,400 grams. But as farmer Jan himself says: “They are beautiful, healthy and delicious, but simply don’t fit on the shelves.” Help farmer Jan and come pick them.
Fortunately, there is hope for the pumpkin surplus. You can help by picking pumpkins yourself. In addition, No Waste Army has launched a nationwide crowdfunding campaign together with farmer Jan, so the pumpkins don’t end up in the bin but receive a valuable destination: the Food Bank.
Too big for the supermarket, but not for the pan
According to Jan, the problem began when a new variety of pumpkins grew exceptionally well this year. “That’s a problem for the trade, but absolutely not for the pan,” Jan says with a smile. The major problem, however, is that supermarkets use fixed sizes and weights, and pumpkins that fall outside these standards simply cannot be sold. And so Jan’s beautiful, healthy pumpkins are now in trouble, even though they are perfectly edible.
Jan does not want the pumpkins to go to waste, so he teamed up with No Waste Army to set up a nationwide rescue campaign. And that’s where you can help!
Pick pumpkins yourself or donate
On Friday, October 31, and Saturday, November 1, between 09:30 and 16:00, you can visit farmer Jan Overesch in Raalte. During the pumpkin-picking days, you can fill a bag with pumpkins from the field yourself.
Prefer to donate?
That’s possible too. Through the crowdfunding campaign at www.nowastearmy.nl/pompoen, anyone can donate 6 kilos of pumpkins to the Food Bank for just €5.85. This ensures that the pumpkins receive a fair price while also helping families in the Netherlands.
Too much success: the unintended surplus
What began as a small experiment with a new pumpkin variety grew into a huge surplus. It was an unintended success: the pumpkins grew so much larger than expected that they simply no longer meet supermarket standards. No Waste Army sees this as an example of the problems within the food system: a great deal of good food is rejected because it does not meet the required standards.
Pumpkins are perfectly edible
Thibaud van der Steen of No Waste Army says: “So much good food is rejected simply because it doesn’t meet the standards. These pumpkins are perfectly edible. Together, we’re making sure they don’t end up on the compost heap but on the plates of people who really need them.”
How can you help?
Whether you want to donate pumpkins, pick pumpkins yourself, or share the message, you can make a difference. This is how we ensure that 50,000 kilos of pumpkins don’t go to waste but receive a valuable destination. That way, you’re helping not only farmer Jan but also families who can make good use of these delicious pumpkins.
Pumpkin-picking location
Opposite Heinoseweg 10, along the N35 on the Parallelweg between Heino and Raalte, near riding school het Relaer. There is plenty of parking available on the Parallelweg.
Afterwards, you can head straight into the kitchen with your picked pumpkins. These are the 10 most delicious pumpkin dishes.
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