When you are standing in front of fruit shelves in the supermarket, what is your attitude toward the imperfect tomatoes? Will you be blind to the ugly tomatoes without any hesitation and even throw them aside in disgust? Or will you put them in the shopping baskets without discrimination（歧视）? Most of you will bethe former.
Ugly produce is always left along the whole supply chain. After rounds of selection from farmers, packers and retailers, the annual percentage of eatable food waste is more than 30%（900,000 tons）before the produce arrives at shop shelves. These eatable wastes can feed over 2 million people per year. Besides, we also should not ignore the investment in the production process and the pollution caused by rot. For example, one-kilogram apple production consumes 822 litres of water. One ton of vegetables or fruits that are thrown away can produce around 800 litres of polluted water. And food transport is also a source of greenhouse gas.
Is there any great option to maximize farmer interests and reduce further losses? The answer is "YES". After Woolworth in Australia and Countdown in New Zealand introduced "The Odd Bunch", many retailers in America attempted to develop similar projects that could build a bridge between consumers and farmers, and offer ugly produce at more competitive prices. Through these projects, retail enterprises have built corporate reputation and gained confidence from the public. Farmers have significantly reduced the planting cost because of vast purchasing requirements from retailers. Consumers have enjoyed the similar taste at lower prices.
All the food is born equal, and all the food has the same right to be enjoyed. We shouldn't discriminate food through its uncommon looking. Life's "misery"（eg. exposure to the burning sun）will contribute to a more pleasant taste of food. Please value the unique appearance and qualities of these special foods!
【小题1】What does the underlined phrase "the former" in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Hesitating in front of the ugly tomatoes. |
| B．Leaving the ugly tomatoes on the shelves. |
| C．Picking out the ugly tomatoes from the shelves. |
| D．Buying the ugly tomatoes without discrimination. |
| A．Ugly food attracts consumers' attention. |
| B．Food selection leads to the rise in prices. |
| C．Millions starve to death because of food waste. |
| D．Discrimination against ugly food causes pollution. |
| A．to use ugly food to solve the water crisis |
| B．to make ugly food affordable to those in need |
| C．to make electricity and fertilizer out of ugly food |
| D．to attract people to the ugly food at bargain prices |
| A．Try to Fall in Love with Ugly Food |
| B．Uncover the Truth about Ugly Food |
| C．Why Consumers Won't Buy Ugly Food |
| D．How Ugly Food Leads to Global Attention |
