An Ugly Tomato

We don’t always get what we want. This is a sad truth to life that is often realized too late. However, we cannot be punished for what we do not have, especially when it comes at no fault of our own. Yet, society often finds a way to punish those non-conformists who do not strive to achieve the “ideal” quality.

Every year, “6 billion pounds of perfectly edible produce is wasted every year” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/19/food-waste-ugly-fruits-and-vegs-dont-judge_n_7309432.html) only because that produce is deemed ugly. As an ugly tomato, this greatly saddens me to know that so many of my brothers and sisters are being thrown away simply because someone can’t bear to look at them. 

Me

In fact, many of these fruits are still perfectly good on the inside but no one wants then simply because of their exterior. If you think about it, the way that produce is bought is so messed up. Fruit is only judged by the brightness of its color and its shape. Consumers don’t care about what is inside, when in reality, that is the only part that truly matters in terms of flavor. Also, some fruits have access to good sprays that makes them look shinier and hormones that make them fuller in shape. So, the status of a fruit directly affects its perceived beauty. How can fruit be judged based on its outside appearance when something so dependent on luck as status is can have consequences on it?  The fact that we are even called waste is psychologically threatening as “our waste” is “dumped” on the grounds of society (205). All we are seen as is a waste of space and a mistake or an imperfection in the system.  Humanity is so hypocritical; you preach that beauty standards are detrimental to society, yet you force the same upon fruits. So, I urge you, the next time you are in a store please buy an "ugly" fruit and maybe it’ll turn out to be the best one you’ve ever had.