For an international perspective on my Imperfect Produce reviews, I would like to take you to my native country, the Netherlands, this time.
Last week, my LinkedIn feed showed scenes of a container filled with over 15,000 pounds of zucchini. While that may already impress you, these vegetables were all “food rejects” waiting for a home. On a sunny day in Amsterdam, this imperfect produce took center stage in Dam Square.
Note: This post was updated on 3/4/2019.
Many food subscription services have sprouted the last few years. Think of HelloFresh, Blue Apron and Plated. These all have a similar set-up. You pick your favorite recipes and the ingredients will be delivered to you. While I have been tempted to try one of these when a discount offer comes around, I have never bitten the culinary bullet.
One day Imperfect Produce showed up as a recommendation in my wife’s social media feed. The company from San Francisco sources “ugly” produce from local farmers when possible, or from growers in areas where food waste is imminent. In their own words, they “follow the waste” when necessary and appropriate. Since supermarkets all have their own high standards of what produce should look like, a lot of otherwise good food gets rejected. Produce that has too many marks or is too small won’t make it into the store.
