Tesco tackles food waste with mini avocado trial

It’s the fruit sensation that’s graced millions of Instagram feeds and quickly become a breakfast staple – the avocado.

Now for a limited time only, customers at Tesco will be able to enjoy small, snack–sized avocados, as well as regular-sized varieties. Available in packs of six, the fruit – which are the size of an egg – will be sold in recyclable egg style boxes to prevent them from getting spoiled.

This is the latest move by Tesco to work in partnership with suppliers so that no edible food goes to waste. Traditionally these smaller avocados would have been rejected by growers due to their size. Growers have worked hard so that these diminutive eggs are of the same high quality as their larger counterparts.

The rare, mini avocados or Zilla Eggs are about a third of the size of regular avocados and are 24 times smaller than the giant sized Avozilla avocado, which Tesco has sold in a limited number of stores in recent years.

Tesco avocado buyer James Cantoni said, “At Tesco we’re passionate about working in partnership with our suppliers to tackle food waste from farm to fork.

“These Zilla Eggs are a brilliant way to offer customers great tasting, high quality avocados, which previously would have been rejected by growers because of their size.

“They are perfect for customers who want to snack, without the usual fuss or worry of wasting the other half of the avocado. And it also helps producers who are able to sell even more of their avocado crop.”

In recent years the popularity of avocados has overtaken the demand for more established favourites, with demand soaring by more than 30% last year.

It is hoped the trial by Tesco will help to widen the fruit’s appeal even further. The size and delicate skin, which can be peeled away by hand, makes these miniature avocados ideal snacking foods, and a perfect addition to a school lunch box.

The Zilla Eggs are available from today until stocks run out in 100 stores and in boxes of six priced at £2.

Avocado sizes: the mini Zilla Egg avocado weighs around 70g; the average avocado weighs around 200g, and the Avozilla weighs upto 1.7kg.