Misshapen fruit back in shops

WONKY cucumbers and knobbly carrots are set to return to North Lincolnshire shelves following the abolition of EU rules.

Local greengrocers have given a warm welcome to the decision to scrap the ban on misshapen produce.

For 20 years, EU-wide marketing standards have ensured that products which do not look 'perfect' are not able to hit shop shelves, but to reduce red tape and make cheaper fruit and veg available during the credit crunch, the restrictions have today been lifted for 26 items.

Shoppers in North Lincolnshire, including Brigg, Barton, the Isle of Axholme, will now be able to purchase the misshapen variety of fruit and veg.

Susan Pickett, 55, market stall trader at H & J Laws based in Scunthorpe market, said: "It's definitely something I'm going to welcome as the regulations resulted in a waste of food and people only cut up the fruit and veg for use anyway."

She added: "Things are so expensive now that any way of cutting the costs for shoppers is needed."

Trina Harvey, 49, manageress of Rooke's quality fruiters in the Scunthorpe market, agreed but said the stall had always aimed to minimise waste anyway.

"As long as the food is fresh, that's all the shopper wants, so if it's something we can sell, we will do regardless of the size or shape to reduce waste, although we might sell it a bit cheaper, " she said.

"We've never had anyone complain about the size or shape of anything in the last ten years I've been doing so the whole rule was a bit silly in the first place."

The rules banishing irregular produce were originally asked for by the fruit and veg industry, to ensure consistent quality.

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