Funded Project - Transforming cherry waste into commercially viable and high-value products
This project will focus on transforming on-farm cherry ‘waste’ into valuable new food and drink products for the domestic and international market. Through development and testing, a business case will identify the most commercially viable option for a new high-value product that can be produced on-site with specialised processing equipment.
Background
Cathedral Cherries is a farm-to-consumer business committed to sustainable strategies in farming and consumer goods. It is repurposing blemished Victorian cherries into high-value food and beverage products for the Australian market.
Cathedral Cherries collaborates with second and third generation farms, processors, and new producers to develop sustainable products. They increase access to the circular economy by using innovative technologies, including vacuum concentration, freeze-drying, specialized sieve systems, de-stoning machines, enzymic treatment and fermentation. Their new product range includes cherry-apple cider, cherry vinegar, cherry liqueur, cherry juice concentrate and freeze-dried fruit.
Across Victoria approximately 3,000 tonnes of cherries are discarded because of blemishes and other cosmetic imperfections. One-third of all food produced is wasted each year. In Australia alone, this equates to 7.3 million tonnes of food waste, costing the economy around $20 billion annually.
The project
The project aims to create new circular business models and materials markets, increase local jobs, and enhance circular economy skills in the workforce.
Cathedral Cherries will conduct research and develop a processing plant and a network of partners to repurpose cherry food waste into new, commercially viable products. Product samples will be developed and tested such as cherry-apple cider, cherry vinegar, cherry liqueur, and cherry juice concentrate.
By repurposing waste cherries, the project will directly avoid food waste going into landfills and other waste destinations. This process will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
Objectives
The project has multiple objectives, including increasing access to circular economy products and services, reducing materials to landfill, and creating new circular business models and materials markets.
Project progress
| Key deliverables | Status |
|---|---|
| Table 10 to 20 products for bench trails and testing. Followed by the selection of 10 for implementation. | Complete |
| Conclude recipe trials, release small-batch samples and collect customer feedback. | Complete |
| Evaluate customer feedback and write up a Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI)* report. Assess sustainable packaging options. | |
| Obtain all relevant equipment for final implementation. | |
| Conclude all food standards testing for final release. | |
| Conduct demonstration workshops for customers and supply partners with a 5 to10 minute presentation. |
* A Sustainable Return On Investment refers to generating long-term financial sustainability while also considering environmental and social impacts.
Challenges
- Matching the volume of fruit to equipment or food processor size. Scale models of the process is difficult because of the size requirements for cherry-specific equipment.
- Linking innovations to brands, once a scalable process is established, and finding or creating the brand.
- The cost of implementing certain initiatives and the technology.
- Finding and funding the expertise required.
From the grantee:
"Farmers are first to see the effects of their decisions environmentally and financially. On-farm waste is an obvious and difficult problem for all farmers, and many hours and dollars have been spent addressing this complex issue. The biggest question is: if we start going down this road, will we be able to get a return in months, years and generations sustainably?
" Having the support of Sustainability Victoria in the form of funding allowed us to bring in a food professional, and partner with food processors, while we focus on our season's harvest. We've been able to team up with other farms and tackle this issue as an industry.
" The combined effect of Sustainability Victoria's backing, along with a dedicated Project Manager, has resulted in us making new discoveries and partnerships that may have taken many more years, funds and waste to achieve. We're grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this program and look forward to sharing our results."
