Wonky Veg
Wonky veg are fruit and vegetables that don’t meet certain standards set by supermarkets, so are thrown away. Examples include apples that aren’t round enough or butternut squash that aren’t the typical shape.
What can be done?
Gleaning! Gleaning is an old word which means to pick over a crop field after harvest, picking up all the leftover food and using it. Modern gleaners pick up vegetables that would be thrown away and distribute them to soup kitchens, food banks and community fridges.
DID YOU KNOW? There is a Devon Gleaning Network!
How much wonky veg is there?
WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) reckons that more than 3.6 million tonnes of food is wasted on UK farms every year. Feedback Global published a report in 2018 which said about 7.4% of a farmer’s crop could be wasted like this. In 2014, the House of Lords heard that farms could lose up to one-fifth (20%) of apple crops because they aren’t red enough.
What can I do?
Buy wonky veg! If you see them then buy them! They are often cheaper than other fruit and veg so can save money on your food shop too. Some supermarkets have really tried hard to market them in their shops.
Write to supermarkets and shops saying you don’t care what fruit and veg looks like, just what it tastes like! Why not do a taste test with your class to prove it!
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