July 6, 2025
Championing sustainability by embracing the perfectly imperfect fruits and veggies.
Let’s be honest: not all produce is Instagram-ready—and that’s exactly what makes it beautiful.
Enter ugly produce: the twisted carrots, the spotty apples, the lumpy butternut squash. These quirky characters may not win any beauty contests, but they pack the same flavor, nutrients, and organic goodness as their more photogenic counterparts. And best of all? Choosing them helps fight food waste and support sustainability in a big way.
Each year, billions of pounds of fruits and vegetables are discarded simply because they don’t “look right.” They’re too small, too large, a little bumpy, or just oddly shaped. But when we say no to these misfits, we waste not just the food—but also the resources used to grow it: water, soil, labor, and energy.
That’s why more retailers, cafés, and conscious consumers across the country (especially in the organic food world) are saying yes to produce with personality. Stocking or serving “ugly” vegetables isn’t just practical—it’s a statement. It shows that sustainability isn’t about perfection; it’s about purpose.
At Ace Natural, we’re proud to partner with farms that care more about what’s inside than what’s outside. We encourage food businesses across the Tri-State and Mid-Atlantic regions to give wonky produce a second chance. Use that imperfect zucchini in a soup, turn bruised peaches into a compote, or chop up oddly shaped potatoes for the crispiest roasted side dish.
Delicious doesn’t have to be flawless. In fact, we’d argue the weird ones taste even better.
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