I Don’t Care About Spots on My Apples: Understanding Cosmetic Standards for Produce

As consumers we’ve become accustomed to seeing perfect blemish-free fruits and vegetables in grocery stores. However, the reality is that minor cosmetic imperfections are completely natural and do not affect food safety or nutrition. The lyric “I don’t care about spots on my apples” from Counting Crows’ cover of “Big Yellow Taxi” challenges these unrealistic beauty standards for produce.

The History Behind Cosmetic Standards

Cosmetic standards for fruits and vegetables were developed to help standardize quality and grading The goal was to create uniformity in sizing and appearance to meet consumer demand and facilitate shipping and storage These standards were based on the assumption that produce with blemishes, spots, misshapen forms or small sizes were inferior.

However, the standards have become so strict over time that even minor, natural variations can cause perfectly good produce to be rejected. Up to 40% of fruits and vegetables grown on farms end up going to waste because they don’t meet idealized cosmetic criteria.

Why Those Standards Aren’t Necessary

The lyric “I don’t care about spots on my apples” makes an important point – small cosmetic flaws do not affect nutrition or food safety. In fact, fruits and veggies with minor imperfections are just as nutritious and delicious as perfect-looking produce. Here are a few key reasons why those strict cosmetic standards aren’t really necessary:

• Blemishes don’t impact flavor – Small spots, scars or discolorations on the surface of fruits and veggies do not affect internal quality or taste. Produce can still taste wonderfully sweet and ripe even if it has a few natural marks.

• Nutrition is not compromised – Imperfect produce contains the same valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as perfect-looking fruits and vegetables. Nutrient levels are not decreased if the shape or skin has flaws.

• Food safety is not a concern – Minor blemishes or spots do not make produce unsafe to eat. Only significant rot or mold would be a food safety issue, and those foods would never make it to market.

• Variety is natural – Fruits and vegetables grow in diverse shapes and sizes. The standards ignore natural genetic and environmental variation. Produce does not have to fit one ideal type to be considered quality.

The Benefits of Accepting Imperfect Produce

By being open to purchasing fruits and vegetables with quirks, consumers can enjoy several benefits:

• Reduced food waste – Relaxing strict cosmetic standards could prevent millions of pounds of edible produce from going to waste every year. This avoids unnecessary environmental impacts from food waste decomposition.

• Lower costs – Misshapen or odd-sized produce often sells at a significant discount just because it looks different. Consumers can take advantage of these lower prices.

• Support for farmers – Farmers are forced to throw out or leave unharvested any crops that don’t match ideal standards. Purchasing their imperfect produce increases farm revenues and prevents food waste.

• More variety – Unique, non-standard fruits and vegetables add diversity to your diet and encourage you to experiment with new varieties you may not have tried otherwise.

• Sustainability – Choosing imperfect produce represents a sustainable choice by reducing food waste and supporting local food systems. Any steps to improve sustainability matter.

Progress Away from Unrealistic Standards

While deep-rooted cosmetic standards still remain common, there are promising signs of change emerging:

• New grocery store programs are selling “ugly” or “imperfect” produce at a discount, raising awareness about waste from strict standards.

• Farmers markets and CSAs often sell produce that wouldn’t be accepted at large retailers, providing an outlet for imperfect foods.

• Some brands use imperfect fruits and veggies to make processed foods like juices, sauces and snacks.

• Startups like Imperfect Foods and Hungry Harvest deliver boxes of imperfect produce at more affordable prices compared to retail.

• Chefs and restaurants proudly utilize irregular and blemished ingredients to reduce waste and add uniqueness.

• Consumers are becoming more vocal about wanting retailers to relax cosmetic standards and reduce waste.

What You Can Do

Every individual can make a small dent in the issue by taking action in their own life. Here are some tips:

• Choose imperfect produce when you see it. Every purchase makes a difference.

• Speak up to retailers and ask them to offer imperfect options if they don’t already.

• Talk to family and friends to help spread awareness of why cosmetic flaws don’t matter.

• Try new recipes like apple crisp or roasted vegetables that utilize blemished produce.

• Support farmers markets, CSAs, and ugly produce delivery companies.

• Write to your local representatives if you want to see larger-scale policy change around cosmetic standards.

So the next time you’re picking out some apples, pears or carrots at the store, remember that minor spots and blemishes don’t impact flavor or nutrition. You can feel good buying that less-than-perfect food. Just a few small choices can gradually shift attitudes around unrealistic cosmetic standards for produce.