End Food Waste Australia cosmetic downgrades

Contribute to a new research project helping growers save food and money

What are the top 3 cosmetic specifications that cause the most downgrades for your crop?

We know that cosmetic specifications are an important part of horticulture, helping to maintain consistency for markets, retailers and consumers.

However, these specifications can inadvertently lead to high-quality, edible produce being excluded from markets and losing premium value they could attract.

Share your feedback

Growers and industry stakeholders are invited to share what cosmetic specifications are most impacting you and the crops you produce.

Your input will contribute to a research project led by End Food Waste Australia and Hort Innovation helping growers unlock value in every harvest.

Share your feedback here

Acknowledgement

The Reducing on-farm food waste and unlocking its value for grower profitability and sustainability (HN24001) project led by End Food Waste Australia funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the University of Queensland, and contributions from the Australian Government.

This article appears as part of the 31 July 2026 issue of Guacamole, our e-Newsletter.