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Who says you can’t eat them because they don’t look perfect?
Ugly fruits and vegetables are perfectly good for consumption. They may not pass the standard shape, size, and color but they have the nutrients your body needs.
In fact, the imperfections of these ugly fruits and vegetables may be “battle scars” from fighting off pests and insects, according to the Salt, a blog from the National Public Radio (NPR) Science Desk.
Organically grown, these fruits and vegetables are free from the pesticides used to achieve the perfect skin and color of conventional produce.
They may be less attractive but they’re pack with more nutrients. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that organic crops have higher concentrations of antioxidants and lower concentrations of the toxic metal Cd.
Eating ugly fruits and vegetables can protect the planet
Looking beyond the physical appearance of these ugly fruits and vegetables is not only good for your health but for the environment, as well.
Did you know that 1/3 of the global food production doesn’t reach our plates? One of the reasons is they’re ugly.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, fruits and vegetables are often disposed because they don’t meet cosmetic standards. In developing countries, 40 percent of food are lost or wasted due to transportation and processing inefficiencies, FAO reported.
Food wastage takes a toll on the environment. FAO’s study titled “Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources” found that wasted food adds 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
Small-scale sustainable farming reduces waste. In 2010, ECHOfarms Sustainable Harvest demo farm was launched to show that planting organic vegetables is possible even in a small property.
Organic vegetables from the farm are available at ECHOmarket. You may also taste the fresh vegies by dining at ECHOcafe. Bringing the farm’s produce directly to the store and café, lessens post-harvest losses.
Choosing organic fruits and vegetables can satisfy your palate while saving the planet.
Featured image: Mutatoes by Uli Westphal
