When you're at the supermarket, have you ever picked up a fruit or vegetable that's slightly unusual, a little different? Maybe it's a carrot that's a little wonky or an extra large eggplant, or a potato with a dent in its side. Most of the time, you'll miss seeing these imperfects because supermarkets discourage buying them.
It can be easy to pass over these imperfect fruits and vegetables and choose something that looks more perfect instead. But what if we started choosing imperfect produce more often? What if we consciously decided to buy vegetables that are a little bit ugly?
There are three reasons why this is a good idea:
1. By buying imperfect produce, we're supporting local farmers. These farmers work hard to grow our food, and they deserve to be rewarded for their hard work, even if their food doesn't look perfect. Unfortunately, because of unrealistic visual standards, these fruits and vegetables never even get past the farm gate to the supermarket in the first place.
2. Imperfect produce might actually taste better, because it hasn't been sitting in storage for weeks or months. When you eat something that's fresh and in season, it's going to taste better than something that's been shipped halfway around the world.
3. Finally, most of us want to become a little more conscious about how we live and the impacts this have. Recognising that we don't need an apple to look perfect, especially when it's baked in a pie, or a carrot sliced in a salad, is a step in the right direction because each time we make choices like this we can have a positive impact in the fight against food waste.
So next time you're at the supermarket, don't be afraid to pick up a few imperfect vegetables. Some supermarkets like Harris Farms and Woolworths offer them. You might be surprised at how good they taste. Or, alternatively, try one of our curated boxes of fuglies delivered to your door.
