i accept ugly

thanks (again) to jonny for putting us on to Howies - one of the new breed of businesses willing to do their retailing in fresh/ethical ways. their website has some wonderful stuff....i'm a big fan of the food reflections, particularly the "i accept ugly" piece.

I Accept Ugly.
I accept that fruit and vegetables come in all shapes and sizes.
Like life, it takes all sorts.
I accept apples that don't have perfect skin.
(Remember being a teenager?)
I also accept scary looking carrots, over-sized swedes and onions so ugly they make your eyes water.
I accept blemishes on cauliflower leaves especially as we don't eat that bit anyway.
I accept rhubarbs that are taller than corporate policy.
I accept potatoes come from the ground. I have also come to terms with the fact they may well have dirt on as a result.
And as for turnips, well, they were never meant to be one of nature's good-lookers.
You see, nature grew them all. Nature gave them the OK. And, this is the important bit, nature gave these ugly critters as much goodness as the pretty ones.
These are shallow times, I know.
Even so, to throw away 20-30% of the food we grow on the grounds that it's not pretty enough, seems like we have lost the garden plot.
You say your customers demand it this way, well, just so you know, this one doesn't.

By A Customer that accepts ugly