A HEREFORD business has made an appeal to local farmers.

Lyonshall-based rum and gin makers, Penrhos Spirits, has called upon Herefordshire farmers to donate their ‘wonky’ raspberries to be used in their gin in an attempt to reduce food waste and help Penrhos make their production practises more sustainable, a spokesperson said.

The appeal comes as a response to data showing that up to 20 per cent of UK-grown raspberries go to waste every year, with the spokesperson adding that the drink-makers want to save more berries this summer than ever before.

The brand has already saved over 100,000 wonky raspberries in the production of their wonky raspberry gin, they said, using raspberries from both their own farm and from Oakchurch farm in Staunton-on-Wye. Locals can go on to help save the raspberries themselves by making an environmentally conscious choice when shopping and buying a sustainably sourced, packaged and produced gin, they added.

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According to farmer, distiller and co-founder of Penrhos Spirits, Charles Turner, reducing waste has long been at the heart of the company’s business practices, with the idea to create gin originating after a particularly rough week of weather damaged a number of Mr Turner’s berries, forcing him to send them to a bio-digester to be decomposed. Dissatisfied with the waste, Mr Turner set out to find a better way to make use of imperfect berries, eventually resulting in the founding of the company.

Continuing its commitment to sustainable production, Penrhos has also recently begun packaging all their gins in custom-made 100 per cent recycled aluminium bottles - the first alcohol brand to do so.

Made from 100 per cent recycled aluminum, the bottles have been designed and crafted with a specialist producer to be bespoke, spirit safe, and fully recyclable, reusable and refillable. This change has reportedly improved their packaging’s carbon footprint by 91 per cent.

Penrhos Spirits also has a partnership with Oddbox, through which they created their ‘deliciously odd’ limited edition Cucumber and Apple Gin, made with waste products rescued by Oddbox, which is also kept in a recycled aluminum bottle for sustainability. Now increasing their efforts to reduce food wastage even more, a spokesperson said that Penrhos Spirits continues to pave the way in the production of environmentally friendly spirits.

Mr Turner said: “As a business we’ve all got a responsibility to do the right thing.

“We’re not perfect but we’re trying our best to be as sustainable as we possibly can.

“The equivalent of one in five raspberries doesn’t make it into the punnet because it might have a little mark or not be the perfect shape.

“I don’t think any farmer likes to grow anything that goes to waste.

“It’s a really tough climate at the minute.

“We have to do our bit as much as we can.”

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“Penrhos Spirits wants to get as many farms as possible on board with their save the raspberries campaign, so they can rescue raspberries all over Herefordshire and beyond,” a spokesperson said.

“If you know of some raspberries that might need rescuing, please get in touch at hello@penrhosspirits.co.uk.

“And if you want to help save the raspberries yourself, head down to your local Sainsbury’s and pick up a Penrhos Spirits Wonky Raspberry Gin to enjoy this summer.”

Penrhos Spirits’ Wonky Raspberry Gin is currently stocked at Sainsbury’s and is available nationwide. In spring this year, the brand also launched their industry first 100 per cent recycled aluminum Wonky Raspberry 5cl, on-board select easyJet flights out of Bristol and Gatwick in collaboration with Sustainaholics.