Ep. 17 - Ugly Produce and Food Waste: Fact or Fiction?

Food issues are important and there are so many different topics to discuss, whether it’s food deserts or lack of access to nutrient dense foods or the distance our food travels to get to our plate. Today we tackle food waste and the perception that ugly produce somehow gets wasted in this country before it reaches consumers and talk a little about the companies that are taking advantage of that perception to sell you boxes of this ugly produce. Global hunger isn’t about a lack of food. According to the UN’s World Food Hunger Program, right now, the world produces enough food to feed every single person on this planet. It’s not a lack of food production. In most of the world, it’s about logistics. But billions of pounds of fruits and vegetables do go to waste every year post-harvest in more developed countries, like the U.S., whether that’s on grocery store shelves or in our own homes. Let's discuss! Don't forget to send in your gardening questions and your feedback by leaving a message at the link below or sending an email to grow@justgrowsomethingpodcast.com. And follow us on Instagram @justgrowsomethingpodcast. Resources used in this episode: https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/tomato-grades-and-standards http://www.postharvest.org/home0.aspx https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/26/18240399/food-waste-ugly-produce-myths-farms https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs