After an unexpected, bumper crop of small iceberg lettuces at NFU members G’s Fresh, Tesco has used this as part of their Perfectly Imperfect range which caters for fruit and vegetables that meet different specifications.
NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairman Ali Capper said: “It’s really pleasing to see retailers take the initiative and use this unexpected crop as a bonus to get more produce in stores. It’s a win-win for everyone involved as the grower will not have to waste this perfectly good crop and the retailer is able to offer more to the public.
“Supermarkets relaxing their specifications for fruit and vegetables go a long to combatting food waste, in what is a vital issue for the industry. The ‘wonky veg’ lines are a fantastic tool to do this, providing additional markets for products.
The NFU recently backed an Efra select committee recommendation that supermarkets relax their specification rules to allow for ‘wonky veg’ to be included in more lines.
Ms Capper said: “The NFU’s Fruit and Veg Pledge asks retailers to communicate directly with growers to better understand their production challenges and Tesco have demonstrated the value of these conversations.
“The pledge also asks retailers to commit to increasing their proportion of seasonal fruit and vegetables in their stores and taking advantage of crop flushes can be a vital part of that. However, it is important to remember that unexpected crop flushes or ‘wonky veg’ still costs the same to produce for the farmer.”
The NFU’s Fruit and Veg Pledge includes 11 promises that a retailer signs up to uphold, including treating all suppliers fairly and building long-term relationships with growers. The NFU will welcome any retailer who wishes to sign up to the pledge.