A new way to buy your produce has arrived in Calgary. Vancouver-based Peko is a grocery delivery service focused on helping reduce food waste and providing cheaper alternatives to conventional grocery stores by selling “peculiar” produce — that is to say, fruits and vegetables that are misshapen, discoloured or otherwise cosmetically different, but still equally delicious. As of the beginning of May, Peko now offers deliveries to Calgary.
Every year in Canada, more than half of all food is wasted, all while inflation drives costs higher and production increases greenhouse gas emissions. According to Peko, more than $3 billion of that wasted food is produce that’s unsold due to cosmetic reasons alone. Peko’s mission is to reduce this waste as much as possible by selling this peculiar produce at discounted prices.
So how does Peko work? Customers can order a one-time box or become a weekly subscriber, with Calgary boxes delivered on Sundays. Each box includes at least 12 pounds of nine varieties of produce that change weekly based on supply and seasonality. Because Peko’s supply is sourced from local producers and wholesalers, the boxes are always a surprise. Boxes cost $30 for subscribers or $33 for one-time deliveries, which is up to 40 per cent savings compared to grocery stores.
Plus, for every box sold, $1 is donated to Leftovers Foundation to help combat food insecurity in Calgary.