In praise of older fruits and vegetables

As I stroll the aisles of my local market, I feast my eyes on stalls overflowing with perfectly ripened fruits and vegetables. It’s simply delightful to see Immaculate produce in its most beautiful state. And behind the brilliant colours is the promise of sweet and juicy fruit and crisp, tasty vegetables. They’re at their absolute peak. They’re proud and they should be. They know their value. Few foods bring as much pleasure as those that were just harvested, still warm from the sun.  

But, when the harvest is bountiful not every item finds a home right away. After lingering in the stalls for a few days, some fruits and vegetables start to look a little tired. A soft spot here, a bruise there, a bit less vibrancy on the palate. They have a hard time competing with their farm-fresh counterparts. A bit of cool mist can reinvigorate them – like a Botox treatment for produce – but you can’t hide the signs of age forever.

Once produce is too old, many of us find it undesirable. Fruits and vegetables wind up in the trash instead of on our plates. But we shouldn’t be afraid of a few wrinkles! These foods still have plenty to offer. First, they’re still perfectly edible and delicious. Second, there’s no need to wait for them to ripen, they’re ready to eat right now – perfect for the impatient among us. But more than that, at this stage of their life fruits are often very juicy and more aromatic. When they’re slightly dehydrated, vegetables cook faster. Include them in soups, stews, jams or desserts, and all signs of advanced age will disappear and you’ll enjoy them to the fullest. 

Because they know we’re prejudiced against older produce, vendors have ways to encourage us to buy them. At the end of a long market day, they’ll set aside fading produce and make their pitch to budget-conscious shoppers with a small sign advertising a discount.

If they had enough space, these signs might say something like: “This is the fruit of my labour. Mother Nature and I spent months tending this produce, just for you. These items aren’t as pretty as they were when I harvested them, but they’re just as delicious. We can’t let all that work go to waste, but the industry has set unrealistic beauty standards so I’m selling this produce for a low price. Let’s feed your family instead of the dump!”

At your local market, it’s a scene that happens every day as the afternoon sun slides toward the horizon. So take a moment to check out some slightly tired fruits and vegetables at your favourite market.