The European Union to relax rules on the sale of misshapen fruit and vegetables.
A new day has dawned for curvy cucumbers and knobbly carrots after the European Commission (EC) votes to repeal specific marketing standards 26 varieties of fruit and vegetables including cucumbers, onions, peas and carrots.
The current strict aesthetic standards of fruit and vegetables governed by European Union (EU) law allows for uniformity in packaging and shipping and guarantees a particular type of product.
It also means a significant amount of perfectly edible food from strange looking apricots to wobbly looking watermelons do not make it to the shop floor. Relaxing the rules on misshaped fruit and vegetables will ensure less food waste and provide shoppers more choice.
In Ashbourne, County Meath, William Ruiter of Newbarn Farm already sells wonky vegetables and ungraded tomatoes straight off the vine.
The carrots for starters, they're bent there’s leeks there, they’re bent, we’ve turnips there that are a bit rough.
Consumer Micheál Galvin welcomes the rule change as,
We all come in different shapes and sizes, even our people, so do carrots.
Owner of Fairyhouse Food and Wine School Billie O'Shea does not believe the shape of fruit and vegetables matters,
Its taste and quality that matters really.
The new EU Marketing Standards allowing the sale of misshapen fruit and vegetables will come into force in July 2009.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 November 2008. The reporter is Barry Cummins.
