Loose vegetables

The Earth & Wheat box will include large potatoes, parsnips, red cabbage, carrots, broccoli, leeks, onions, garlic, herbs and brussels sprouts

A university student has launched a special Christmas “wonky veg” box with every sale seeing it donate four meals to food charities. 

Lancaster University student James Eid launched the first “wonky bread” subscription business, called Earth & Wheat, in March 2021 as part of his mission to reduce food waste. He is now expanding it in light of the cost of living crisis to include wonky veg. 

The Earth & Wheat box, priced at £19.99 including next-day delivery, will include large potatoes, parsnips, red cabbage, carrots, broccoli, leeks, onions, garlic, herbs and brussels sprouts.

The wonky veg, which otherwise would have been binned due to its odd shape or size because of shop standards, will be saved from selected farms across the UK. 

“Our wonky veg may look odd in shape or size and may not appear perfect but they still taste exactly the same, and our next day ultra-fresh delivery means it will arrive even fresher as it will have come straight from a UK farm,” said Eid. 

With every purchase, free meals will be donated to the most vulnerable including families and children, the homeless, the elderly, domestic abuse survivors, refugees, people on low incomes and people struggling with mental health and addiction.

“The most vulnerable people in our society are going to be those who suffer most this Christmas as the cost of living crisis bites as what tends to happen is people tend to pull back on donating to charities because they are forced to economise themselves,” said Eid. 

Customers need to order by 12 noon on 19 December with deliveries taking place before 23 December. Existing Earth & Wheat customers can swap out their regular Veg Box for the Christmas Veg Box using their online account.