The shape of things to come (From Bournemouth Echo)

The shape of things to come

9:00am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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IF you are an unorthodox banana, keep ’em peeled. The fruit police may still have you end up in a pickle.

But for curved cucumbers and crooked courgettes today’s a great day. July 1 is independence day for misshapen fruit and veg following an EU U-turn. After 20 years of persecution, they are back on our supermarket shelves at last. (Not so, alas, the much maligned deformed banana, which, I’m told, is covered by a different EU rule.) Still, today let’s celebrate, for 26 types of ugly fruit and veg can now be sold in our shops.

That’s Life’s Cyril Fletcher may no longer be with us but I’m sure there’s many a man and woman from our island shores ready to lead the titter once again at the sight of a suggestive carrot or shrivelled plums.

Does it make you proud to be British? It should. Last year some countries argued that the rules restricting sales of odd cauli and off-colour asparagus should remain. But Britain marched with Germany behind the Danish agricultural commissioner’s end-the-ban banner. And today that pressure’s born fruit.

To be honest, for years I thought the claims of curvy cucumber controls were simply mythical rhubarb put out by Euro-bashers. I was wrong. Twisted tubers and deformed cabbages have indeed been subject to barmy EU control.

Even though the shape does not affect the taste.

Or stop it being one of your healthy five a day.

Today’s move means that prices may come down and a big waste of farm produce ended.

Brussels has seen sense over sprouts.

Is all that’s left bananas?

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