ED PERKINS recently wrote about ‘The shape of things to come’, his thoughts on misshapen produce.

My long experience in matters concerning the quality and shape of produce has prompted me to comment on Ed’s thoughts.

I write as a former president of the London Fruit Trade Federation.

In many ways the EEC Standards Committee would spend an excessive amount of time considering the appearance of the product rather than its quality.

Often endeavours were made to increase the production of certain varieties of produce and decrease production of others, ie the lovely flavoured Russett apple – once enjoyed by many, now rarely grown.

I remember a meeting at which we dealt with the humble leek, a popular vegetable.

The bureaucratic system was such that an endeavour was made to restrict the circumference, length, and degree of white and green!

How could a farmer exercise such control over nature? Ridiculous!

I recollect at the Rotterdam (DELT) Dutch auctions, how the correctly shaped and perfectly coloured tomatoes and cucumbers for the English market would demand a higher price than the misshapen produce, which would be bought by other buyers at a reduced price!

In my many talks to British housewives I have reminded them that they pay excessive prices for well graded appearance produce but the first thing they do is to remove the costly peel or skin of produce and throw it away!

Remember below the skin, peel, or leaf covering of all fresh produce, whether misshaped or perfect, the quality and flavour is the same!

So with the EC’s July 1 decision, housewives watch out for bargain produce!

PHIL CAREY, Youell Court, Southbourne