Ugly Produce

This is just a small portion of my ugly produce bounty from today's trip to the market.

I read an article a few months back that talked about why tomatoes don't taste like tomatoes should.  The author of the article explained that the folks who produce tomatoes for grocery stores and club stores genetically alter the fruit in order to create tomatoes that are more uniform in color, shape, and size and to create a fruit that doesn't spoil as fast.  Wow!  Modern science has come a long way because we now have food that looks pretty and will last forever, but tastes like plastic.  Mmmmmm!  I don't know about you, but I really don't want to eat, nor feed my family, food that has been genetically altered in order to look pretty.  Seriously? It's Frankenproduce!

That being said, I have tried to buy all my produce from local growers and primarily at Farmers Markets.  The difference is absolutely amazing!  The only drawback is that it can get a little expensive and most Farmers Markets are only open on the weekends, which is fine, but we are family that does the bulk of our shopping mid week.

I recently found a small produce market that carries mostly local growers, is open all week, and has the best prices ever!!!!!  Not to mention they have ugly produce.  The tomatoes are lumpy and bumpy and discolored, but taste like tomatoes should.  The apples actually vary in size and are dull because they don't have a coating of wax.  I could go on and on, but I think you understand.  I am thrilled to say that I have found a place to buy ugly produce where I don't have to take out a second mortgage to do so.  Yay!