JUST lately there’s been a raft of new things that companies and individuals are doing or about to do, that are going to change the way we look at things we eat and the way we live.
Emerald, in Southeast Queensland for years was the sunflower capital of the state.
However, hard economic times have since robbed the jewels in the crown due to hard economic times and a deadly disease that decimated the local industry.
But out of adversity came new ideas. Traditionally sunflowers were grown to make cooking oil and later cut flowers found their way onto the table, however an oil seed crushing plant has been proposed and with new strains of sunflowers available that resist the deadly tobacco streak virus, times are changing for the region.
Talking about new things, your choice of ice cream will soon be expanded as a couple of companies are launching new flavours.
Soon to be announced are “cauliflower vanilla bean” and “pumpkin gingerbread,” that’s right, vegetable flavoured, but best of all, each scoop contains one serve of vegetables and equal nutritional value.
So, you can have your ‘cake’ or ice cream and eat it too.
Bound for the international stage with its deep shade of purple and striking crisp flesh the new ‘Bravo’ apple looks and tastes like no other Australian apple on supermarket shelves.
Ann Lyster, apple farmer in Western Australia says, “this is not just another piece of fruit, this is special, this is super premium.”
“It’s expensive if you look at the apple category, but by itself it’s not really after all it’s the Louis Vuitton of the apple industry.” she said.
And can you believe, dairy cows are now munching on reject chocolate and lollies that would have otherwise gone to landfill.
James Mann, a cattle farmer at Wye, Southeast of Mount Gambier is feeding his herd of 4000, rejected confectionery, instead of sugar as some farmers do, to give cattle more energy.
Cows need sugar and oil in their diet and chocolate has both.
Hair the new ‘poop’
Human hair contains one of the highest nitrogen levels and mixed with compost further enriches the soil, with the hair adding protein, carbon, as well as nitrogen.
Hair is extremely strong and must be processed through a special machine to grind the hair and pulverise it to release the nutrients. It’s estimated that 400,000 kg of hair goes into landfill each year, so I guess it’s, yet another way people are thinking outside the square and working out new ways to alleviate the waste in industry.
A couple of years ago, during Covid, Sydney hairdressers collected more than 10 tonnes of human hair to re-purpose and send off to Mauritius to help clean up a massive oil spill near a reef.
Human hair is effective in soaking up oil and was made into sausage like hair booms.
Then there’s a farmer in NSW who has a self-serve butcher shop that runs 24 hours a day with no staff, yet not a single item has been stolen.
It’s an interesting concept with a few ground rules for customers to follow and maybe a camera to watch.
Till next time.
