Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Curved cucumbers and knobbly carrots are back!







Photo credit: Chotda

Bendy cucumber fans, rejoice! From tomorrow, EU rules on the size and shape (!) of 26 fruits & vegetables will be updated.

Apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, avocadoes, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflowers, cherries, courgettes, cucumbers, cultivated mushrooms, garlic, hazelnuts in shell, headed cabbage, leeks, melons, onions, peas, plums, ribbed celery, spinach, walnuts in shell, water melons, and witloof/chicory - they can all be of any size and shape, from tomorrow.

Bet that made your day. As it did mine.

However, apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes will still have to conform to standards (unless individual countries allow weirdly shaped ones to be sold with a clear "product intended for processing" label).

In case you wonder, the "curved cucumbers and knobbly carrots" quote is from Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. Really.

Who says the drive to cut EU red tape isn't going anywhere, huh?

Today, fruit & veg; tomorrow - Eurovision?

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