Chalk One Up for the Ugly Fruits and Vegetables Crew
by Eric Leech, New York, NY 
on 11.17.08
Photo by Miliquin
A few months ago we reported that the European Commission (a.k.a the parliament of Europe and arbiter of standards), was discussing the possibilities of scrapping the current strict standards of some 26 varieties of fruits and vegetables in the marketplace, including melons, apricots, carrots, peas, and onions.
What are these current standards? You know all those interesting, comical, funky looking, and sometimes even anatomically correct fruits and vegetables we see pop out of our own organically grown gardens, or local farmers markets.
Well, these ugly looking fruits and vegetables have been weeded out of European grocers shelves with only the best looking and most colorful studs being given the right to be sold for human consumption. All other rejects were snatched out of the crowd and carted off to the island of unwanted fruits and veggies, where they would live out their days in denial, tears, and Xanax.
Not all European countries were against allowing the ugly produce into the marketplace, but France, Spain, and Italy were among the 16 of the 27 representing nations who expressed opposition to the abolition of the produce standards. Strangely, their greatest concern was that a national standard for produce may eventually occur if they approved such a change..
Thanks to a little help from the tanked economy and rising worldwide marketplace prices, they finally settled on a compromise that would keep the old standards for 10 discriminated members of the produce family. These included lettuce, tomatoes, apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, kiwi, and citrus fruits.
With so little food and so many mouths to feed, it is amazing how it has taken this long to accept less than perfect fruit and vegetables. We have rules on accepting each others differences and imperfections, so why not throw a little produce in the mix! Hopefully we can free the other 10 members of the produce family from the European hitmen's list.
Until then, are there any huggers among us that would oppose the consumption of these ugly little market finds (pictured above)? Let your voices be heard...
More on fruits and vegetables
Avoid Pesticides in Fruit and Veggies
Follow the "Three-Month Rule" for Fruits and Vegetables
Nutrition & Kids: Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables
Oddly Shaped Vegetables Allowed in Europe
Source:
The New York Times: Europe Relaxes Rules on Sale of Ugly Fruits and Vegetables http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/world/europe/13food.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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At last a bit of common sense prevailing (not often we can say that from the European Commission). I look forward to some appropriately mishaped veg now. The question is will they ever compete with my very mis-shapen home grown parsnips??? Now talk about odd shapes!! Pity I did not take photos ...
As an European I think this is one of the most important news of the year!
Although it's a bit frustating that they're only changing their mind on calibration after the general rise in essentials goods prices I think this is a major step towards fighting waste and lowering prices, even if it's in non-organic produce.
Critics of this measure are saying three things: this will cut back on the amount of food in good condition given to charity; this will widen the gap between conventional and organic produce and that supermarkets still retain the right of selecting their produce by how it looks.
But how can you allow such waste when there's obviously so much inequality in the distribution of food and when it is more expensive to eat a salad and fruit than a steak and a sundae??
Just to clarify; the European Commission is a non-elected body (executive) which not directly appointed. The European Council (not Council of Europe, which is an independent body!) isn't elected either and tends to come up with the general mood of policy. Leaving the relatively toothless European Parliment, which is directly elected but only really acts to nudge and approve the other bits of the EU.
Bit sad that as a EU citizen, who happily grows his own wonky veg AND buys wonky veg (illegally?), I have almost no ability to be directly with the comission (faceless bureaucrats) who actually decide these things. :(