Tesco has decided to offer its customers a ‘monster’ way to beat the credit crunch by embracing new EU fresh produce laws.
Following the European Union ruling allowing the sale of oversized and strange-shaped produce, Tesco will sell a 'Monster Bunch' box including an oversized swede, carrot, onion, butternut squash and sweet potato for £2.50.
The EU rules covered 26 types of produce and were introduced 20 years ago to ensure common standards, but were criticised by both retailers and shoppers as unnecessary bureaucracy.
Until now, 20 per cent of produce has been rejected by stores across the EU because it failed to meet requirements. The new ‘monster’ vegetables will be up to five times the size of standard produce.
The EU's agriculture commissioner called the scrapping of the produce laws as “a new dawn for the curvy cucumber and the knobbly carrot”.
The move will be good news for farmers, who are set to get a better return for some of their ‘ugly produce’ than they did when it was pulped for products such as baby food.
Tesco vegetable buyer Jonathan Corbett said: "They are so big that they look like they've come from the land of the giants or at the very least the prize stall at the annual horticulture show.
"We have been anticipating the lifting of this ridiculous ban by the European Commission (EC) for some time, now which is why we are ready to launch our Monster Bunch box so quickly."
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