Wonky but wonderful
Buy natural fruit and veg – its tastes just as good!
Your Challenge
Instead of perfectly straight carrots and round apples, embrace nature’s perfect imperfections by buying wonky and organic fruit and veg.
We know food waste is a big problem on our planet. Of all the food that’s produced globally, around 14% is wasted after harvest, before it hits the shops[1]. Many supermarkets and brands have strict requirements for farmers – if their produce doesn’t meet the strict size and shape requirements, it is wasted.
However, there’s been a recent backlash against wasting such food and now many retailers and veg box schemes are selling ‘wonky’ fruit and veg. There are different options available:
- You could pick up a bag of non-organic, wonky veg in a supermarket
- Or support a specific wonky veg box provider that buys the surplus fruit and veg from farmers, which would otherwise be thrown away.
- Alternatively, you could support organic veg boxes and produce, as these are grown naturally and come with natural imperfections.
It’s up to you, but by supporting our wonky friends, you’ll be reducing food waste.
Why you're doing this
Produce can get discarded for cosmetic reasons including odd shapes, unusual colours, or having blemishes on the peel (which you don’t even eat). What we eat and how we produce our food is pushing our planet beyond its limits.
Putting time, energy and resources into growing food only to throw it away after harvest because it grew ‘incorrectly’ is adding to the global footprint of our food system. This is driving climate change and destroying vital habitats and the species that live there.
How you'll make a difference
By sourcing perfectly imperfect natural fruit and veg, you will help to fight back against consumer demand for perfection, and you will help cut down unnecessary food waste of edible food.
It is time to #FixTheFoodSystem. By doing this challenge you are also taking part in WWF-UK’s Eat4Change campaign to encourage sustainable diets and join the fight for our planet.
Track your progress
in the My Footprint App
Track your progress and discover many more challenges in the My Footprint app. Available for iOS and Android devices.
