It has been estimated that humans waste 300 million tons of food each year. This is an outrageous statistic when you consider the millions of people who are starving, some of them to death. Unfortunately, much of this food waste comes not from individual fridges, but directly from farms, where “not-so-perfect” produce is thrown out because it does not meet the aesthetic standards that the modern consumer expects and the supermarkets simply will not purchase it.
A French supermarket is setting out to change this. Intermarche, the third largest grocery store in France, has started a campaign to sell those ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables and sell them to consumers at a 30 per cent reduced price. They are marketing them as the “Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables,” starring the Grotesque Apple, the Ridiculous Potato and the Hideous Orange, to name a few. The campaign was a huge success, with Intermarche selling out of their less-than-perfect produce in a matter of days.
Just as consumers seem keen to purchase only the most attractive produce, so we humans are bent on being the most attractive people.
We shun anything that is out-of-the-ordinary or unique as we seek to fit into the perfect size-0 bikini, or flaunt the most clear complexion. But for us it goes beyond even the aesthetic principles, as we strive to be the most athletic, the smartest, or the most successful. Anything less than perfection seems a waste, or is it?
Thankfully, God doesn’t think so. God knows that none of us are perfect – not one. In fact, He reminds us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) But He does not throw us out because of this. Instead, He proved His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)
God accepts us just the way we are – flaws and all. God accepts us as inglorious human beings; shouldn’t we also accept those things which appear to be inglorious in the eyes of the world? Perhaps if we look with God’s eyes, we will see things as they truly are – perfect gifts from God.
Laura Van Schaick is a lieutenant with the Salvation Army in Quesnel.