Growing need for ‘imperfect’ fruit and veg to be sold due to ongoing product shortage – Lombard

Ongoing shortages of fruit and vegetables due to changes in weather patterns, the dramatic decline in the number of growers and other issues reinforces the need for products deemed imperfect to be sold on supermarket shelves, according to Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard.

Senator Lombard said a food forum must now be established by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue where all stakeholders can come together to discuss matters such as food waste and security, pricing and attitudes of retailers and consumer.

Senator Lombard said: “Warnings today that we will have a shortage of Irish grown vegetables like carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts and cabbages for the rest of the year should be the catalyst to change our approach to vegetables and fruit that are deemed ‘ugly’ or ‘wonky’.

“It is not sustainable to continue with the current approach where up to 30% of fruit and vegetables never make it to the supermarket shelves simply because items look imperfect.

“A change in approach from retailers and an education and awareness campaign for consumers around this would see benefits for everyone from the primary producer to the consumer. I raised this issue during the discussion on food inflation recently and I believe it’s even more urgent now based on the shortage of produce we can expect this year.

“We need to ensure that all our fresh produce is for sale in our supermarkets and nothing is discarded for being the ‘wrong’ shape or size or not meeting cosmetic standards.

“Previously I called on the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss this issue with retailers and stakeholders and I’m pleased that the committee will now hold hearings in July.

“The Minister for Agriculture must also call a Food Forum where all stakeholders are at the table for a discussion on this in terms of food waste, food security, cost to the producer and attitudes of retailers and consumers.

“I also intend raising this matter with party colleagues and members this Thursday at a regional conference of Fine Gael’s National Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Forum, which will be held in Carlow.

“Let’s take the opportunity to reduce this shocking food waste between the farm gate and the supermarket shelves which only happens because retailers have decided that some produce is unappealing to the consumer. It’s time for an honest conversation around our retail policy when it comes to fresh produce and the impact that the large retail chains exert over the fresh food produce market.

“There is an opportunity here to educate and inform consumers in relation to the food chain and food production. Inform the consumer and make them aware of the current food waste and then let them decide what produce they want to purchase.

“I believe that consumers will opt for reducing food waste, increasing food security and operating a more sustainable food chain from farm to fork which benefits everyone,” Senator Lombard concluded.