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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/dec/22/wonky-spuds-tesco-selling-reject-potatoes-christmas
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Why wonky spuds will be back for Christmas | Why wonky spuds will be back for Christmas |
| (25 days later) | |
| The worst growing conditions in more than 40 years have brought misery for Britain’s potato farmers this year. Freezing spring temperatures in parts of the country, followed by the summer drought – the worst since 1976 – have hit growers across the country and threatened to put some out of business altogether. | The worst growing conditions in more than 40 years have brought misery for Britain’s potato farmers this year. Freezing spring temperatures in parts of the country, followed by the summer drought – the worst since 1976 – have hit growers across the country and threatened to put some out of business altogether. |
| Now, however, comes a rare piece of good news for the industry. Tesco is relaxing its stringent guidelines governing the size and shape of potatoes to ensure a decent supply over Christmas. The supermarket giant has already taken delivery of some 4,000 tonnes of spuds that it would normally reject. | Now, however, comes a rare piece of good news for the industry. Tesco is relaxing its stringent guidelines governing the size and shape of potatoes to ensure a decent supply over Christmas. The supermarket giant has already taken delivery of some 4,000 tonnes of spuds that it would normally reject. |
| “We’ve worked with our potato growers to use as much of the crop and prevent perfectly good spuds from going to waste,” said Rob Hooper, Tesco’s potato expert. “We want to support our growers wherever we can – and although some potatoes might be smaller and larger, they still pack the same great taste our customers expect.” | “We’ve worked with our potato growers to use as much of the crop and prevent perfectly good spuds from going to waste,” said Rob Hooper, Tesco’s potato expert. “We want to support our growers wherever we can – and although some potatoes might be smaller and larger, they still pack the same great taste our customers expect.” |
| More than a third of farmed fruit and vegetables never reaches supermarket shelves because it is misshapen or the wrong size, according to research published in August by the University of Edinburgh. It found that more than 50 million tonnes of produce grown across Europe is discarded each year. | More than a third of farmed fruit and vegetables never reaches supermarket shelves because it is misshapen or the wrong size, according to research published in August by the University of Edinburgh. It found that more than 50 million tonnes of produce grown across Europe is discarded each year. |
| Supermarkets including Morrisons and Waitrose were last week reported to have increased their efforts to reduce the national food waste mountain at Christmas by offering shoppers edible produce nearing the end of its shelf life, as well as “wonky” sprouts, carrots and parsnips. | Supermarkets including Morrisons and Waitrose were last week reported to have increased their efforts to reduce the national food waste mountain at Christmas by offering shoppers edible produce nearing the end of its shelf life, as well as “wonky” sprouts, carrots and parsnips. |
| The Observer reported in April that farmers were having to delay sowing their potato seeds because of the late spring snow, and that difficult weather conditons had pushed the harvesting of the nation’s asparagus back weeks. Then a sustained heatwave played further havoc with growing conditions, compounding problems for potato farmers. | The Observer reported in April that farmers were having to delay sowing their potato seeds because of the late spring snow, and that difficult weather conditons had pushed the harvesting of the nation’s asparagus back weeks. Then a sustained heatwave played further havoc with growing conditions, compounding problems for potato farmers. |
| The shortage became so dire in the late summer that the major supermarkets had to import tonnes of potatoes from other European countries. | The shortage became so dire in the late summer that the major supermarkets had to import tonnes of potatoes from other European countries. |
| “The extreme cold of the Beast from the East delayed planting in the spring, then the extended heat and drought of the summer impacted on crop growth and development,” said Sharon Affleck, sales and marketing director at Branston, one of the UK’s largest potato packers, which handles about 350,000 tonnes a year. | “The extreme cold of the Beast from the East delayed planting in the spring, then the extended heat and drought of the summer impacted on crop growth and development,” said Sharon Affleck, sales and marketing director at Branston, one of the UK’s largest potato packers, which handles about 350,000 tonnes a year. |
| “Potatoes need a good water supply to help them to grow evenly and bulk up, especially when it’s hot. This means that the fresh potatoes available to pack are generally smaller, and the shape and skin finish is not as smooth as consumers may be used to.” | “Potatoes need a good water supply to help them to grow evenly and bulk up, especially when it’s hot. This means that the fresh potatoes available to pack are generally smaller, and the shape and skin finish is not as smooth as consumers may be used to.” |
| The widening of the specifications, which will remain in place until June when the first of the new season’s crop comes in, has been welcomed by farmers. | The widening of the specifications, which will remain in place until June when the first of the new season’s crop comes in, has been welcomed by farmers. |
| “It continues to be critically important that retailers provide flexibility on specifications during difficult growing seasons in order for British farmers to do what they do best – producing food for the nation,” said the NFU’s chief horticulture adviser Lee Abbey. | “It continues to be critically important that retailers provide flexibility on specifications during difficult growing seasons in order for British farmers to do what they do best – producing food for the nation,” said the NFU’s chief horticulture adviser Lee Abbey. |
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