Sustainable Shopping: The Surplus Grocery Experience

AUSMAT’s Food Science and Technology students embarked on an exciting learning adventure and shopping experience at Graze Market, Malaysia’s pioneering surplus grocery store.

This learning beyond the classroom activity was organised to enhance students understanding on food sustainability, tackling issues on food waste, and raising awareness about becoming responsible shoppers. In class, the subject introduced students to innovations in food products aimed at reducing food waste. This includes not only leftovers but also produce that are discarded due to imperfections.

The students arrived excitedly at Graze Market and were warmly welcomed by Ms. Clara Wan, the founder and CEO and her team. With full enthusiasm, Clara and her team introduced us to the concept of food waste, emphasizing the significance of imperfections in food, such as blemishes and bruises on fruits and vegetables. These imperfections often lead to produce becoming part of food waste.

As she guided the students around the store and cafe, the students asked questions to better understand Graze Market’s mission. Clara emphasised the importance to reuse fruits and vegetables, highlighting product innovations to reduce wastage and sustain businesses. At Graze Market, they rescue the imperfect farm produce for sale or use it at their eatery. Some produce is processed into jams and sauces. Any remaining produce can be composted and returned to the environment.

Clara further shared ideas to repurpose food. She kindly provided students with samples of fruit popsicle sticks made from rescued produce. The students enjoyed their treat, applying their classroom knowledge on sensory properties and product evaluation and shared their thoughts on the sampled flavours at Clara’s request.

As AUSMAT thanked Clara and her team, the students showed support towards the grocery store and their sustainability initiatives as they purchased some of the food products. The Food Science & Technology students had an eye-opening field trip, exploring a unique grocery store and gained a deeper understanding on food issues as everyone continue to embrace sustainability.