Over three hundred thousand tonnes of British produce, enough to fill 2,500 Boeing 747-400 freight planes, is estimated to have reached supermarket shelves this year after retailers relaxed product specifications for fruit and vegetables following a difficult growing season.
The NFU says growers across the country have welcomed the efforts being shown by major supermarkets to make use of imperfect, weather-marked produce, including potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, swedes and apples, rather than rejecting them on the grounds of appearance.
So far this season, concessions made by the major retailers include:
An early move by Waitrose to accept shorter carrots, thinner parsnips and smaller strawberries;
A decision by Morrisons to incorporate smaller than usual versions of broccoli, leeks, sprouts, swedes, apples and pears into its value ranges;
A commitment from Sainsbury’s to use all fruit and veg that meets regulations and stands up on taste, also incorporating them into products such as ready-prepared salads, mash in ready meals and fillings in bakery products.
Walter Simon, a Pembrokeshire potato grower and member of the NFU’s horticulture and potatoes board, said: “I am delighted that retailers have responded to an exceptional growing year by relaxing their specifications on potatoes and, importantly, telling consumers about the reasons for any slight changes they may notice in the potatoes they buy.
“The packing sector is working extremely hard to market the British crop and deliver the very best of what we have available, including potatoes that might have been rejected on the grounds of size, shape or colour in any other year.”
Apple grower Ali Capper, from Worcestershire, said she had benefitted from changes in specifications applied to apple colour and skin finish.
“It’s reassuring that retailers have recognised what a challenging year it has been for growing tree fruit throughout Europe,” she added. “Supply is very short so a sensible approach to specifications that allows more perfectly edible fruit through supermarket doors is welcomed. This more relaxed approach could be extended into future years to ensure that the minimum amount of fruit is wasted at farm level.”
Earlier this year, the NFU called on retailers to adopt a more realistic approach to sourcing ‘out of spec’ fruit and vegetables in its Catalyst for Change report to prevent thousands of tonnes of perfectly edible fruit and vegetables being wasted every year and to reduce imports.
NFU chief horticulture and potatoes adviser Hayley Campbell-Gibbons said: “In accepting to buy weather-blemished and wonky produce this season, shoppers are sending a very clear message that they are happy to eat food that may not pass a beauty contest, but still tastes great.
“Nobody wants consumers to compromise on quality, but just because a carrot is bent, or the skin of an apple is marked, it’s perfectly useable, can offer great value and most importantly reduces wastage in the food chain. Let’s hope that retailers carry on with this sensible approach to sourcing so that more of the food we produce in Britain can actually make it onto the shelf.”
