Why People Are Falling in Love With “Ugly Food”

CC Image courtesy of Mikhail Dubov on Flickr

There's a new food trend in town, and it's giving the oddly-shaped apples, frail asparagus and the double-headed peppers a chance to shine.  An estimated third of the food produced globally is wasted, and in an effort to reduce food waste, supermarkets are featuring "inglorious," "wonky," and "naturally imperfect" produce.

The “ugly food movement” is taking off around the world, particularly in Europe and Australia, as an answer to the problem of food waste. So far, it has yet to firmly take hold in the United States, but given this country’s love of solution-driven food trends, it seems a good bet that ugly food might soon take its place beside local food, organic food, and environmentally conscious eating. “Ugly” foods are those that sellers and buyers often reject because of their appearance, like misshapen vegetables and bruised fruits. Farmers dump them. Supermarkets and restaurants reject them. Consumers historically have avoided them.

Read the full story, "Why People Are Falling in Love With “Ugly Food”" on Time's digital platform.