# Repurposed Relish Condiments The Sweet, Spicy & Sour 'Rescued Relish' is Made from Excess Produce By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-01-04 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/relish-condiment References: [drexel.edu](http://drexel.edu/now/archive/2017/December/Food-Waste-Marketability-Research/) & [nrdc.org](https://www.nrdc.org/resources/drexel-food-lab) When it comes to relish, many consumers first and foremost think of [pickles as the main ingredient](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grillos-presents-pickled-fresh), but a relish condiment can be made from a number of chopped vegetables, fruits and herbs. Since a staggering amount of fresh produce goes to waste daily, the Drexel Food Lab set out to explore a potential solution to food insecurity through a simple condiment. 'Rescued Relish' was created as a condiment from [excess produce](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clean-label-syrups) from Philabundance, a Philadelphia anti-hunger organization. The relish boasts [sweet, spicy and sour flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/green-chili-jam), making it interesting in terms of flavor as well as beneficial to the local community and environment. As part of a study to see how consumers might accept foods created from discarded ingredients, Drexel University identified that "value-added surplus foods may be perceived closer to organic foods as a category, encouraging the possibility of promoting such foods as a new category offering benefits to society." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 63% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Surplus Food Utilization:** Exploring ways to repurpose excess produce into innovative food products, like 'Rescued Relish', to combat food waste and promote sustainability. - **Community-driven Flavors:** Creating condiments and food products that celebrate local flavors while supporting organizations working towards food security, like Philabundance. - **Perception of Value-added Foods:** Investigating the potential for discarded ingredient-based foods, such as 'Rescued Relish', to be seen as a new category with societal benefits, similar to organic foods. ### Where This Applies - **Food Waste Management:** Developing innovative solutions, like repurposed condiments, to address the global issue of food waste and improve sustainability in the food industry. - **Local Food and Agriculture:** Supporting local farmers and suppliers by sourcing excess produce for value-added food products, contributing to community growth and reducing waste. - **Sustainable Food Products:** Creating a market for sustainable and socially conscious foods, like 'Rescued Relish', that emphasize environmental benefits and support social initiatives. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Upcycled Fruit Chews](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/climate-candy.md) - [Health-Focused Condiments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/healthfocused-condiments.md) - [Environmentally Friendly Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/climate-candies.md) - [Repurposed Fruit Juices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daily-dose-1.md) - [Humorous Condiment-Inspired Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/endcondimenthoarding.md) - [Sustainable Fruit Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upcycledcertified.md) - [Five-Second Chutney Condiments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chutnefy.md) - [Pickled Hot Pepper Relishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-chopped-pepper-relish.md) - [Salsa-Chutney Condiments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chalsa.md)