With so many dismal things happening these days, it’s great to write a happy story.
Last week I was flummoxed to learn that Lower Mainland farmers were giving away tens of thousands of pounds of “ugly” potatoes. What’s an ugly potato? For most of my life I’ve eaten fresh garden vegetables, many misshapen or blemished, but all nutritious and delicious.
Well, according to reports, the big grocery stores don’t accept potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, any vegetable that doesn't look good. I got to wondering why they think customers won’t buy cosmetically imperfect veggies. Is it some kind of vegetable-ism?
There have always been people who only want the very best, we all do if we can pay for it, but why is the value of a potato based on its appearance? Is it a stretch to wonder if it’s because we so often base the value of people on the colour of their skin?
Ugly Potato Day was started two years ago by Surrey farmer Tyler Heppell to help the needy and reduce food waste. The event now includes other farmers. About a dozen customers showed up for the first event. This year some 4,000 people were attracted to the Cloverdale Rodeo Grounds for the giveaway of 150,000 pounds of ugly free potatoes. Other visually impaired veggies were also available. Along with helping people feed themselves, the farm giveaways reduce farm waste and fight food insecurity. A winner all around.
A group called the Odd Bunch is launching a store in Toronto that will sell “odd” or “ugly” fruits and vegetables (that don’t meet retail standards) at low prices. Maybe the big retail stores could join the movement by having two bins, one for perfect vegetables at a high price, the other with ugly vegetables at a lower price. Make everybody happy.
