NPR reported recently that Walmart {one of the largest grocery chains in the country} will be testing out selling ugly produce in 300 Florida stores.
Ugly or imperfect produce is nothing new {which you already know if you garden}. Every year, an unfathomable amount of produce goes to waste because it doesn’t look the part because of natural growth deformations, weather damage, etc. And while I am totally in support of selling the “damaged” goods, I couldn’t help but notice that they are shipping Washington apples ALL THE WAY TO FLORIDA. Am I missing something here? Why wouldn’t we start by selling what they are branding as “I’m perfect” apples IN WASHINGTON.
I guess Walmart applied the same general principle in Texas with a line of blemished potatoes, called “Spuglies.” While, I have to admit, the name is totally clever, I can’t help but wonder, are they shipping Idaho potatoes all of the way down to Texas to “test” them out too.
I guess I should be happy that such a large chain is doing their part to limit food waste, but I want my cake and to eat it too. What do you think, am I too Utopian to think we could sell it all a little more locally?
~Mavis
Cheri says
I have learned that interstate chains may have policies about how they distribute produce. For example, even if they can get local, some won’t if the farmer can’t provide enough to distribute it to every store in a region. That’s what a Sprouts store told me here in Colorado. I was pretty frustrated, because Sprouts has a wonderful produce section at great prices that could be amazing if they would provide local produce. Instead they truck in what could be found right here. But our state chain, King Soopers, carries a lot of local produce. Whole Foods is national but does carry some local produce.
Leslie says
Cheri, I heard (and never fact-checked) Costco frequently buys what they can from local producers/distributers. I think Winco does that, too.
Cheri says
I think this is true, because I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some “local” or “Colorado grown” signs in that store. Not many, but a few. The policies are definitely different from chain to chain.
Julie says
Hmm. It could easily be argued that my local Walmart already sells ugly produce. :/
Jennifer Meyer says
I second this ^ Hahaha!
JULIE ANN says
This is rather cool and interesting!
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/04/26/475739569/beneath-an-ugly-outside-marred-fruit-may-pack-more-nutrition
Ann says
I haven’t seen mishapen spuds here in Texas. I agree, it would be better to sell local produce locally.
Ann
Leslie says
If we can accept nature’s full spectrum of “normal” produce, maybe we can also accept the full spectrum of normal humans 🙂
Erin says
I live in FL. Apples don’t grow in FL on a commercial scale. Or really anywhere close to FL. But Bananas and Mangoes do. Most Orange Juice is from FL. If you live in Washington guess where your bananas come from and also from Central America which could be further away depending on how you travel.
I think its really two different issues:
1) Ugly produce
2) Local Produce
In the good ole USA, we want all things, all the time. Local, seasonal, those words just don’t mean anything to us anymore. Sure, we can say we believe in it, but I like apples, and I bet Washingtonians like bananas.
Tamara says
If I eat ONLY locally grown fruits and veggies I would never have a pineapple, kiwi, mango or banana. Or coconut or orange. So, what do all the pineapple growers in Hawaii do with their fruit? Only Hawaiians can purchase it? What, then, happens to their local economy? I do support local farmers and growers and I do support global farmers and growers, because as it happens, I DO like and want those tropical fruits.
MDOE37 says
I do see local produce in the chain stores here. But being in Michigan, there isn’t much of a winter growing season for produce.
I stopped at a roadside market (produce/dollar store/feed store) to mill around. I spied big bags of carrots.. probably three foot long and a little bigger than a basketball around. $3.50 for a bag. They are being sold for feed. I poked around a couple of bags. They were perfectly find, just too large to fit in the grocery store packaging and a few uglies here and there. I purchased two bags and canned them. Lovely produce and a very reasonable price.