"Ugly" Produce is Edible and Saleable.
Retailers are encouraged to dedicate an area of the store for "ugly produce." By accepting and integrating the sale of off-grade products (different size/shape/color) into normal business practices, produce that would normally be discarded can be sold at a discount to shoppers.
A French grocery store chain introduced an ugly fruit and vegetable campaign at all their stores across the country. The Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables campaign sells ugly produce at a discount and a year after the campaign was implemented, the grocery chain saw store traffic increase by 25%, reaching 21 million people. The success of the campaign lead to other French grocery chains implementing similar programs.
How Large Food Retailers Can Help Solve the Food Waste Crisis
9 practices retailers can adopt to reduce food waste
To further encourage customers to purchase off-spec produce, ReFED has developed actions that can be implemented in the retail or grocer sector.