OT Don't waste non-pretty produce.

[palerider]

just because it's not pretty doesn't mean it should be thrown out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn5N60PCAjs

[chunkyfrog]

Organic and pesticide-free often means we eat last; after the insects, birds, etc.
They tell us which fruits are the tastiest, and usually leave us the lion's share. (Unless we are too slow)
Commercial breeders aim for pretty, and easy to ship, not for flavor or nurition.
The bugs know best. They visit our all-natural garden, so we plant extra.
We put the most damaged fruit off to the side, and let the bugs have it.
One day we saw a HUGE mantis dining upon the flies as they enjoyed the buffet. So cool!

[Julie]

What's good is that now some restaurants and supermkts are saving the unpretty stuff for foodbanks... though I don't know how I'd feel if I was given some vs what everyone else was eating.

[palerider]

What's good is that now some restaurants and supermkts are saving the unpretty stuff for foodbanks... though I don't know how I'd feel if I was given some vs what everyone else was eating.

me? I'd feel grateful.

[Julie]

Sure, of course, but you know what I mean... of course better than scavenging dumpsters!

[chunkyfrog]

Dumpster diving is becoming more popular, and increasingly necessary.
Don't be a snob.
As world resources dwindle, we will all need to learn to redefine "OK".

[Julie]

Nothing to do with being a snob, but more to do with feeling 3rd class for a long time... it gets pretty tiring, depressing...

[palerider]

Sure, of course, but you know what I mean... of course better than scavenging dumpsters!

well, not really.

though I don't know how I'd feel if I was given some vs what everyone else was eating

well, I already know how that feels, I haven't had any waygu steak in ages, nor caviar, except on my sushi, haven't had piles of crab legs since kansas city.

there's plenty of stuff others get that I don't.

I don't think I've ever had Poutine

[chunkyfrog]

. . .

I don't think I've ever had Poutine

It does sound tempting, though.
Maybe just 2 or 3 cheese curds . . . Right before bed. Yum!

[Julie]

I'm talking about what it feels like to have to just eat (if you're lucky that day) stuff others won't... on a regular basis, to have no options at all in your life, to be exhausted just trying to survive and having no hope - that gets depressing and it makes you pretty tired spending any energy you do have just looking for the next meal.

[palerider]

like elephants wandering the prairie.

[Lucyhere]

Why pay the same money for inferior produce? If inferior produce is next to the beautiful looking produce most of us buy, why not sell the not so good looking produce at a discount? Or, better yet, give the inferior produce (that is equally as healthy) to people in need?

[Sir NoddinOff]

Avocados with some brown spots make good guacamole. In our house, apples with a few bad spots get sliced up with the bad spots removed, then they go in waffles. Wilted lettuce is good in Chinese stir-fry, just like spinach. Wilted carrots get popped in the crockpot. Potatoes with some bad spots get the bad parts removed and the good stuff goes into the same crockpot. I could go on and on but you get the picture. I'm careful with mold tho... sometimes that mold spreads beyond what you can see, best to toss that, plus the taste is foul.

[chunkyfrog]

Since food prep often involves cutting and peeling, it is better to use everything we can.
We just shared the biggest peach (softball size, freestone, white flesh) from our yard.
"They" had already found it, but only about 15% was unusable. Best peach we ever ate.

[Okie bipap]

The only thing I miss about California is the large nectarine tree we had in our yard. Our neighbor's brother always planned his annual trip to visit his brother to coincide with the nectarines getting ripe. He always brought an extra suitcase to hold the nectarines.