Baylen Linnekin: Portuguese Food Co-op Fights Back Against EU

Fruta Feia, formed in 2013 by Isabel Soares, is a
co-op that’s fighting both inane EU food regulations and the food
waste those regulations cause. The group pushes back against
regulations that dictate the size and shape of fruit that can be
sold throughout the EU. If fruit is misshapen, irregular, or fails
to meet certain color guidelines, then the regulations state that
it’s not fit for sale. The rules, published in
2008, state that apples, for example, may not be sold if they have
certain cosmetic “defects” in “shape” or “coloring.”

At a time when the economic downturn means fresh fruits and
vegetables are harder to come by for many—with small farmers
struggling to make ends meet—and with food waste an enormous
problem, these regulations couldn’t be more idiotic and
infuriating.

Baylen Linnekin interviews Fruta Feia’s Maria Canelhas about the
co-op’s mission.

View this article.