By Devon Lee and Hawkinson Ryan
BERKELEY, Calif. — Ugly fruit or imperfect fruit can be a surprising, unique way to create a more sustainable environment. Vendor Danielle Byers, CEO of the Rare Barrel and a regular vendor at the Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market, uses deformed fruit products to make beer.
“When making our products, we try and use imperfect produce. Which is fruit and vegetables that cannot be sold in stores and are put into the Ugly Fruit Movement,” she said. “We worked with them in the past to take those products and make new products instead of them going to waste. We try to figure out ways to reuse food and reproduce them into beer or jelly.”
The Ecology Center organizes three local Farmers’ Markets throughout the city, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. These are led by a community of farmers and local businesses aware of their environmental footprint.
Since 1969, The Berkeley Ecology Center has pursued the goal of reducing the environmental impact of urban residents. One of its main practices is sustainability, the use of environmentally friendly products. This philosophy has been implemented at the Farmers’ Markets and adopted by its farmers and consumers.
Jessica Guerrero — who sells peaches, pears, figs and vegetables — uses live mulch in her growing practices. According to Gardeningknowhow.com, living mulch protects the main crop from weeds and regulates soil temperatures for the main crop to grow.
One effective method of sustainability is the removal of plastic and the use of recyclable products. For example, Byers uses glassware instead of plastic cups.
“For participating in the farmers’ market, we bring our glassware that we then take back and wash; we try and not bring a lot of waste,” she said.
Eddie Diaz, who grows strawberries and tomatoes, runs a stall at the Farmers’ Market every week to sell his produce. He bans plastic and only uses recyclable paper bags.
“We use a lot of paper, recyclable paper, instead of any type of plastic,” he said.
The Farmers’ Markets encourage visitors to practice sustainable shopping methods, becoming the first in the country to eliminate plastic bags and packaging.
“A few years ago they started banning plastic bags, gotta bring your own bags,” says long-time visitor Anette Firestein. “In a good way, I think they’re keeping a watch on things.”
In Byers’ eyes, community is a key aspect for the future of our planet.
“I see a community that cares about what they are putting into their bodies. People want to know where their products are coming from,” she said.
“The Berkeley Farmers’ Market is a great representation of farmers that are bringing organic produce,” she said, “or vendors that are producing things that are more of a goal for Berkeley.”