Deformed vegetables make a comeback

Posted By Joshua Keating Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 9:33 AM Share

Great quote from European Commission agriculture spokesman Michael Mann:

"Next Wednesday is a new dawn for the bendy cucumber and the amusingly shaped carrot."

The news is that the commission is voting tomorrow on whether to ditch its infamous "marketing standards" for produce, a favorite target of ridicule for euroskeptics. Among other rules, the standards specified that cucumbers sold within Europe had to be "practically straight (maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 10 cm of the length of cucumber)."

Eliminating the draconian standards is the right thing to do in a time of high global food prices and a smart move for the EU's image. Bring on the amusing carrots!

EXPLORE:EUROPE, BUSINESS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, LAW

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