Lowblaws, Canada’s largest grocery chain, is going to start offering imperfect selections in their produce department. According to treehugger.com, the retailer is taking steps to reduce food waste, offer lower income families affordable fresh produce options, and help farmers {who know that not every veggies grows perfectly straight, round, etc.} by selling ugly produce.
They are calling it “No Name Naturally Imperfect” {I am totally having t-shirts printed up, because that is my new motto}. You can buy this misshapen, perfectly edible produce at about a 30% reduced cost. They are kicking off the experiment with apples and potatoes, with the hopes of adding more as the idea catches on.
The idea will hopefully have a meaningful impact on the estimated $31 billion worth the food waste each year {in JUST Canada alone!}. It should also limit how much food ends up in landfills. Best of all, it allows farmers to sell more of their crops–which means we may actually have farmers that can make a living feeding us. It’s win-win-win.
I personally think this idea is awesome. Go Canada! What do you think, would you buy ugly produce for a reduced cost?
~Mavis
Cecily says
I already do. My local produce market sells only B-grade produce, the stuff grocery stores reject. I get onions for 39¢ a pound, avocados for as little as 25¢ each, flats of strawberries for $8.99 and once 11 pounds of asparagus for $3. All perfectly edible, if not pretty.
sarah says
we have a dented shelf at our market. I use to buy the apples to make applesauce when my kids were babies. the local farm has a “use now” and “dented” box. If I see any tomatoes I grab them, freeze them and when I have enough make sauce.
D Lovely says
I’m totally for this!! Can hardly wait to get some discounted apples, especially for baking. :). I hope it’s a roaring success and spills into other produce. :). Oh Canada! 😀
JC says
Seriously why is this just happening now? We should have been doing this right along!!
kitty says
we used to but in a lot of place people stopped buying them.
Tina P says
This is AWESOME!!!!! I’ll take a T-shirt as well!!!!
Tammy says
I think it’s a great idea!
My dad works in the fruit industry, and there is a lot of waste before fruit ever makes it to the stores, mostly the imperfect fruit. Far better to sell it for less than to throw it out!
CS says
Wish more stores would do this. I grew up on a small family farm in Hawaii….we grew papayas and bananas when I was little. I remember my parents separating out the ones that they couldn’t sell due to scars on the skin of the fruit(not even bruises just scars from the fruit rubbing against another fruit or the tree) and the “ugly” shaped ones. We used them at home and gave them away to family and friends…we didn’t waste any!
Anna says
Oh Yes. Yesterday at the Fred Meyer in University Place I was overwhelmed by all the discounted produce they had for $1.00 per bag. For $3.00 I scored 10 tomatos, 3 grapefruit, 1 apple, 1 tangelo. 1 pear and 8 bananas. I was told they are being more particular about the produce on display. I suspect this is due to Whole Foods opening in May.
Dale says
I would definately buy defective fruits and vegies. What an awsome program!
bobbi says
I would DEFINITELY buy misshapen food. Who cares? It all eats good! 🙂
Gidget says
Its about time!!! So far Loblaws is test running it in Ontario & Quebec only. Hurry it up to BC and the rest of provinces!
Diabe Bernath says
Definitely would buy them – once you cut them up, does it really matter what it started like. As long it’s fresh there’s no difference to the taste.
Christine Weadick says
I will be looking for this in the stores as a way to help my grocery bill as i am in Canada but….. Some farmers have raised concerns about this idea fearing that buyers may take advantage of the farmers. The fear is that the buyers will say that the load has some imperfect produce so we can’t pay you for #1 product but we will buy the load at a lower price as #2’s…. Something to be aware of….
Mindy says
It makes me sad that this is a debatable issue. Food is beautiful, no matter the shape, color, size, etc. I really hope this “concept” quickly moves to the states.
Ronnica, Striving Stewardess says
That’s a great idea! Hopefully it’ll help the bulk of people who are too far removed from their food supply to recognize what “real” food is like.
Heather says
That is AWESOME!