Is the 91裸聊视频渦gly produce91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� trend already reaching the end of its shelf life in supermarkets?
Walmart and Whole Foods in recent years tried selling some blemished fruits and vegetables at a discount, produce they said might otherwise be trashed because it91裸聊视频檚 not quite the right size, shape or colour. But the two chains and others quietly ended their tests, suggesting dented apples and undersized potatoes may not be all that appealing in stores where better looking fruits and vegetables are on display.
91裸聊视频淐ustomers didn91裸聊视频檛 accept it as much as we had hoped,91裸聊视频� said Mona Golub of Price Chopper, a grocery chain in the Northeast that also discontinued its offering of ugly produce.
Still, some stores and home delivery startups haven91裸聊视频檛 given up on the idea of selling less-than-perfect produce to reduce food waste and say they91裸聊视频檙e doing well.
At a Hy-Vee store in Iowa, a recent display of 91裸聊视频淢isfits91裸聊视频� produce included packs of apples, lemons and oranges that were either too big or small, or otherwise substandard in appearance. A sign explained that 91裸聊视频�6 million pounds of fresh produce goes unused each year,91裸聊视频� though the packages didn91裸聊视频檛 specify why the produce might have otherwise been thrown away.
91裸聊视频淚 like the cost savings and it is good to help and not throw so much away,91裸聊视频� said shopper Brian Tice, who bought a pack of small oranges.
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Another shopper, Jamie Shae, said she didn91裸聊视频檛 realize there was anything special about the fruit
91裸聊视频淚 happened to see the bags of lemons,91裸聊视频� said Shae, who was in a rush and grabbed two bags.
Shopper Joan Hitzel, who was browsing other produce nearby, said she thought the Misfits were a good idea given the tons of food that gets thrown away, but didn91裸聊视频檛 plan to buy any that day.
The supplier of the Misfits produce to supermarkets, Robinson Fresh, said about 300 grocery locations still sell the fruits and vegetables, including the Hy-Vee stores. Kroger also said it still plans to introduce its 91裸聊视频淧ickuliar Picks91裸聊视频� this spring.
But among other regional chains that have stopped carrying ugly produce are Meijer in the Midwest, Hannaford based in Maine and Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, which cited 91裸聊视频渋nconsistent customer interest91裸聊视频� for pulling the plug on its 91裸聊视频淧roduce with Personality.91裸聊视频�
Walmart no longer offers the damaged 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 Perfect91裸聊视频� apples it introduced in Florida in 2016.
The efforts channeled growing interest in reducing food waste. Government agencies say the best way to reduce waste is to stop producing too much food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 31 per cent of the 430 billion pounds of the nation91裸聊视频檚 food supply goes uneaten. That does not include the fruits and vegetables that get tossed at the farm level, before foods reach stores.
For fruits and vegetables that don91裸聊视频檛 meet supermarket standards, some may get processed for products like juices and some go to food banks. Startups delivering ugly produce say there91裸聊视频檚 so much they91裸聊视频檙e not taking from food banks.
Shopper preferences may not be the only challenge for ugly produce in supermarkets.
91裸聊视频淩etailers really prize their produce sections,91裸聊视频� said Imperfect Produce CEO Ben Simon, whose company had partnered with Whole Foods on a test at the chain. Grocers might worry that cheaper produce will cannibalize sales of regular produce, or give off a bad image, he said.
Delivery startups say they91裸聊视频檙e seeing interest in their services. But they are up against shoppers who inspect the fruits and vegetables they buy and those who worry about all the packaging.
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91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been food shopping online, and I started thinking about all the boxes, all that cardboard,91裸聊视频� said Nyasha Wilson, a New York City resident who carefully selects apples for ripeness at a farmer91裸聊视频檚 market.
The companies say they might at least change shoppers91裸聊视频� views on discarded produce. Evan Lutz, CEO of the startup Hungry Harvest, said most of it is just too small or slightly discolored.
91裸聊视频淭he vast majority that would go to waste isn91裸聊视频檛 really that ugly,91裸聊视频� he said.
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